Career Path Forecast
 Employment
of speech-language pathologists is expected to grow by 19 percent from
2008 to 2018, faster than the average for all occupations. As the
members of the baby-boom generation continue to age, the possibility of
neurological disorders and associated speech, language, and swallowing
impairments increases. Medical advances also are improving the survival
rate of premature infants and trauma and stroke victims, who then need
assessment and sometimes treatment.
Employment in educational services will increase with the growth in
elementary and secondary school enrollments, including enrollment of
special education students. The 2004 Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act is a Federal law that guarantees special education and
related services to all eligible children with disabilities. Greater
awareness of the importance of early identification and diagnosis of
speech and language disorders in young children will also increase
employment.
 In
healthcare facilities, restrictions on reimbursement for therapy
services may limit the growth of speech-language pathologist jobs in the
near term. However, the long-run demand for therapists should continue
to rise as growth in the number of individuals with disabilities or
limited function spurs demand for therapy services.
The number of speech-language pathologists in private practice should
increase because hospitals, schools, and nursing care facilities will
contain costs by increasingly contracting out for these services.
 In
addition to job growth, a number of job openings in speech-language
pathology will be due to retirements. Opportunities should be favorable,
particularly for those with the ability to speak a second language, such
as Spanish. Demand for speech-language pathologists can be regional so
job prospects are expected to be favorable for those who are willing to
relocate, particularly to areas experiencing difficulty in attracting
and hiring speech-language pathologists.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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