CareerCast.com Reports on Best Jobs For People With Disabilities

The three best professions for job seekers with disabilities are all in the field of health care: Pharmaceutical Sales, Pharmacy Technician, and Physician’s Assistant, according to a new report by CareerCast.com.

“Organizations specializing in job placement for the disabled find that healthcare employers offer better access to careers than any other industry,” says Tony Lee, CareerCast.com. “Many Americans have some kind of disability, and a large percentage of them either work in healthcare today or will find a job in that sector in the future.”

The 2010 U.S. Census estimates that 54 million Americans have a disability, which translates into 10% of the population ages 18 to 64. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that unemployment for the disabled is 12.9%, which is significantly higher than the national average and up from a rate of 9.3% at the onset of the recession in 2008. However, healthcare job growth is rising steadily, with the sector expected to increase by 5.6 million jobs within the next eight years, creating many available positions for disabled candidates.

Disabled workers can be a great asset to a company, but only about 20% of Americans with a physical or cognitive disability participate in the traditional workforce today. Discrimination is still a key barrier to employment, and one the most difficult hurdles for disabled job seekers to overcome is perception.

The following is an overview of the best jobs for disabled candidates, according to data gathered for the CareerCast Jobs Rated report.

PHARMACEUTICAL SALES

  • Median Pay (Wholesale/Manufacturing Sales Representatives): $56,620
  • Number of Jobs/Outlook: 1,830,000/16% growth

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN

  • Median Pay: $28,400
  • Numbers of Jobs/Outlook for Growth: 334,400/32%

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

  • Median Pay: $86,410
  • Number of Jobs/Outlook for Growth 83,600/30%

ACCOUNTANT/AUDITOR

  • Median Pay: $61,690
  • Number of Jobs/Outlook for Growth: 1,216,900/16%

TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS

  • Median Pay: $54,710
  • Number of Jobs/Outlook for Growth: 194,900/15%

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

  • Median Pay: $90,530
  • Numbers of Jobs/Outlook for Growth: 913,100/30%

MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST

  • Median Pay: $60,570
  • Number of Jobs/Outlook for Growth: 282,700/41%

VOCATIONAL COUNSELOR

  • Median Pay: $53,380
  • Number of Jobs/Outlook: 281,400/19% growth

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST

  • Median Pay: $46,680
  • Number of Jobs/Outlook: 330,600/13% growth

MANAGEMENT ANALYST

  • Median Pay: $78,160
  • Number of Jobs/Outlook: 718,800/22% growth

For more on the methodology behind the report, visit this link.