Key Takeaways:
- The employment outlook for registered dietitians (RDs) is quite favorable. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow 11% from 2020 to 2030.
- This job growth is driven by increased emphasis on preventive care, an aging population needing nutritional guidance, and a greater awareness of the importance of diet in maintaining health.
- Registered Dietitians can find opportunities in various settings, including hospitals, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers, private practice, research institutions, and schools.
- There is growing interest in nutrition in industries like food service management, corporate wellness programs, and public health agencies, broadening the career options for registered dietitians.
Today’s registered dietitian works in a field rich with clientele and continuous demand. For those seeking solid job security, this position offers just that. But what about this line of work in the coming years? Will it continue to be needed as much as it is today? Follow along as we take a closer look at the future employment outlook for registered dietitians.
Nature of Work
Dietitians are also quite commonly referred to as nutritionists. These terms are acceptable as interchangeable as they represent the same type of work: helping clients to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to become more personally educated about nutrition. More precisely, as stated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “dietitians and nutritionists are experts in the use of food and nutrition to promote health and manage disease. They advise people on what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle or achieve a specific health-related goal.”
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In essence, these experts in food, nutrition, and related health work one-on-one with clients who need their help. Some clients are completely healthy and look forward to this expert guidance simply to stay this way. Others may have some health issues, such as diabetes, and rely more heavily on this nutritional guidance in order to improve from their current condition. In any case, dietitians and nutritionists help people to become healthy in any number of places and environments – at hospitals, clinics, organized public events, and even in the comfort of their clients’ homes.
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BLS Projections
One can surmise right away that such work will likely always be needed as the desire for longevity and good health will always permeate in humankind. But beyond such basic assumptions, what are the real facts and figures regarding this type of career choice in the future? Thankfully, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has investigated this exact matter specifically and has reported its findings as follows.
According to the Bureau, the job outlook for this line of work going into the future is very good. In fact, this profession is expected to grow by around 14 percent through 2026, according the the Bureau. This is well above the average growth rates of most other jobs.
So, what exactly makes the BLS confident of such promise in the future? There are two reasons principally cited for such promise. One reason is that as awareness has grown, the desire to become more healthy and more health-aware has also grown. People generally want to feel and live better and longer, and dietitians can often play a truly significant role in that effort.
Secondly, much of the United States population is afflicted with disease and obesity. While obesity itself is responsible for the emergence of so many health ailments, the stark fact that over one third of the population is obese means that there is a substantial public health problem at hand. This equates to much greater demands in the health and wellness industries. In turn, the dietitian, a staple figure in that community, will be more than needed in future years.
Although such public health numbers are widely viewed as troubling, they do conversely translate to some fantastic career outlooks in the near future. A general public desire to be healthier along with continued troubles in health and nutrition that we’re seeing will continue to drive demand for this occupation upward. In conclusion, for those concerned, they shouldn’t be; the employment outlook of today and tomorrow’s registered dietitian is very promising indeed.