 Career
Path Forecast
Employment of
recreational therapists is expected to increase 15 percent from 2008 to
2018, faster than the average for all occupations. Job growth will stem
from the therapy needs of the aging population. With age comes an
inevitable decrease in physical ability and, in some cases, mental
ability, which can be limited or managed with recreation therapy. In
nursing care facilities -- the largest industry employing recreational
therapists -- employment will grow faster than the occupation as a whole
as the number of older adults continues to grow.
Employment growth in
schools will result from the expansion of the school-age population and
the federally funded extension of services for disabled students.
 Reimbursement
for recreational therapy services will continue to affect how and where
therapeutic recreation is provided. As payers and employers try to
contain costs, recreation therapy services will shift to outpatient
settings and away from hospitals.
Recreational
therapists will experience competition for jobs. Lower paid recreational
therapy aides may be increasingly used in an effort to contain costs.
Job opportunities should be best for people with a bachelor's degree in
therapeutic recreation and the Certified Therapeutic Recreation
Specialist credential. Recreational therapists might experience more
competition for jobs in certain regions of the country as jobs in
therapeutic recreation tend to cluster in more densely populated areas.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
|
