The Health and Social Services Industry

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Health and Social Services are two of Scotland’s main industries.

The Health sector employs 240,000 people – about ten per cent of all Scottish jobs.
Social Services sector employs 117,000 people – about five per cent of all Scottish jobs
The industry exists in all parts of Scotland.

Areas Included

The Health and Social Services industry involves caring for those who are ill or are facing problems in their lives.

There are over 100 different jobs in the Health Service.
Some of these jobs involve working directly with patients such as a nurse or paramedic.
There are also jobs in support and back up services such as catering, cleaning and sterile services.
Social services offer jobs in child care, residential and social care and social work.

For a full list of jobs in Health and Social Services see below.

What’s it like working in the Health and Social Services Industry?

This industry will appeal if you enjoy working with people and you want to help them.
Most workers in health care are employed by The National Health Service (NHS). Most jobs in social care are with local authorities and the voluntary sector.
80% of employees are female
The chance to work part-time is better than in other industries.
The average age of a health worker is 41 and a social care worker 42 – both higher than the average of 36 for Scotland as a whole.
Jobs for school leavers tend to be limited as the work requires a degree of maturity. There are Modern Apprenticeships in Early Years and Childcare and Health and Social Care.

Future Trends

Job prospects for the next ten years are very good.
Health and social work are predicted to have 169,000 job openings by 2017.
This is both a result of the ageing population and also a need for more skilled staff to provide better treatments.

Find out more about where the jobs are in your area.

Useful Information

The Health and Social Services industry is covered by two Sector Skills Council Skills for Health and Skills for Care and Development .

Scotland's Health on the web - throughout Scotland - more on the NHS in Scotland

Occupations

Acupuncturist
Advice Centre Worker
Ambulance Care Assistant
Ambulance Paramedic
Ambulance Technician
Aromatherapist
Art Therapist
Audiologist
Cardiological Technician
Care Assistant
Care Assistant - Children
Care Assistant - Elderly People
Careers Adviser/Officer
Childminder
Chiropodist/Podiatrist
Chiropractor
Cleaner - Industrial
Clerk
Clinical Psychologist
Community Worker
Counsellor
Dental Hygienist
Dental Nurse
Dental Technician
Dentist
Diagnostic Radiographer
Dietitian
Dispensing Optician
District Nurse
Doctor
Domestic Services Manager
Educational Psychologist
Environmental Health Officer
Field Social Worker
General Practitioner
Health and Safety Inspector
Health Care Assistant
Health Education/Promotion Officer
Health Service Manager
Health Visitor
Home Care Assistant
Home Care Organiser
Homeopath
Hospital Pharmacist
Hospital Porter
Industrial Pharmacist
Medical Herbalist
Medical Illustrator
Medical Laboratory Assistant
Medical Photographer
Medical Physicist
Medical Physics Technician
Medical Records Clerk
Medical Secretary
Medical Social Worker
Microbiologist
Midwife
Music Therapist
Nanny
Naturopath
Neurophysiology Technician
Nurse
Nurse - Adult/General
Nurse - Children
Nurse - Learning Disabilities
Nurse - Mental Health
Nursery Nurse
Occupational Health Nurse
Occupational Psychologist
Occupational Therapist
Operating Department Practitioner
Optometrist
Orthoptist
Orthotist/Prosthetist
Osteopath
Parents' Help
Perfusionist
Pest Controller
Pharmacist
Pharmacologist
Pharmacy Technician
Physics Laboratory Technician
Physiotherapist
Playworker
Psychiatrist
Psychologist
Psychotherapist
Radiographer
Recycling Officer
Reflexologist
Refuse Collector
Residential Social Worker
Respiratory Physiology Technician
Social Worker
Social Worker - Mental Health
Speech and Language Therapist
Surgeon
Therapeutic Radiographer
Veterinary Nurse
Veterinary Surgeon
Welfare Rights Worker