Consider the big picture, as we…ve laid it out in previous issues of Trends:
꼑 The population of the developed world is rapidly aging.
꼑 The United States is the only advanced nation where the workforce is forecasted to grow over the next 50 years.
꼑 The populations of the EU and Japan are actually expected to shrink over that time period.
꼑 Even China is rapidly aging and the size of its workforce will peak around 2025.
꼑 At the same time, Latin America, India, the Middle East, and Africa all have young, rapidly growing populations of under-utilized workers and under-served consumers. |
With nearly 80 million Baby Boomers approaching retirement age, America is facing a critical crisis. There simply aren뭪 enough doctors to care for the aging population.
Currently, the U.S. produces about 25,000 doctors a year. To keep up with the demographic trends, we뭠l need between 3,000 and 10,000 more per year. Making matters worse is how long it takes to train a physician ?an entire decade ?which means that by the year 2020, the U.S. will face a shortage of as many as 200,000 doctors, according to a recent report in USA Today. |