Healthcare and social assistance is the largest US employment sector at 18.15 million workers and the fastest-growing source of net new jobs. If you want your resume to win in 2025, healthcare is the highest-volume and most credential-sensitive market.
Where demand is strongest
The roles below combine scale, growth, and clear credential requirements. These are prime targets for resume optimization.
- Home health and personal care aides: 739,800+ new jobs projected.
- Registered nurses (RNs): 166,100 new positions annually, with a 295,800 nationwide shortage and 16.4% turnover.
- Nurse practitioners (NPs): 40% growth, median salary $129,210.
- Medical and health services managers: 142,900 new jobs, +23% growth, median $117,960.
- Physician assistants (PAs): 20% growth, median $133,260.
The nursing shortage is a resume opportunity
With 1.9 million healthcare job openings projected annually through 2033 and hospitals averaging 47 RN vacancies each, credentialed nurses are in high demand. This is where resume structure and keyword alignment directly affect interview rates.
Location matters too. California RNs average $148,000 annually, about 36% above the national median. If you are open to relocation, make that visible.
Keyword priorities for healthcare templates
These keywords appear across clinical, operations, and administrative postings. Use them in Skills, Summary, and in experience bullets where you can provide evidence.
- EHR / EMR systems
- HIPAA compliance
- Patient care
- Clinical operations
- Revenue cycle management
- Telehealth
- Medical billing and coding
- Care coordination
- Patient outcomes
Credential placement strategy
Healthcare resumes are scanned for licensure and compliance before anything else. Make those details obvious:
- Place licenses and certifications near the top (Summary or a dedicated Credentials section).
- List state licenses, board status, and renewal dates if applicable.
- Use full credential names plus common acronyms in the Skills or Credentials section.
Section layout that supports ATS
Healthcare hiring teams still rely heavily on ATS parsing. Use an ATS-safe structure:
- Standard headings: Summary, Skills, Experience, Education, Certifications.
- Simple, single-column formatting.
- Bullet points that tie back to patient outcomes, compliance, or workflow efficiency.
If you want an ATS-safe structure, start with the ATS-friendly resume checklist.
What to do next
- Read the market overview: US job market in 2025
- Tailor for a specific role: Resume tailoring guide
- Generate a tailored resume in minutes: Tailor my resume
Sources referenced in this guide
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics (role projections, sector growth)
- NCHStats (sector size)
- AMN Healthcare and Advisory (nursing and NP data)