Recreational therapy workforce: An update

Authors

  • Mary Ann Keogh Hoss, PhD, CTRS, FACHE, FDRT

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2019.0191

Keywords:

recreational therapy, workforce, therapist, all other, job information

Abstract

This article explores why there is a decline in the growth rate of recreational therapy while there are substantial increases in other therapy professions and recreation workers. The growth numbers of the recreational therapy profession are at a normal growth rate of 7 percent for all occupations according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The growth rate from the Occupational Handbook for 2010-2011 projected a growth rate of 15 percent. The growth rates for occupational therapy, “therapists, all others” and recreation workers are higher than recreational therapy projected by BLS at 20 percent or higher. Possible considerations as to causes for this change in growth are proposed.

Author Biography

Mary Ann Keogh Hoss, PhD, CTRS, FACHE, FDRT

Department of Public Health and Health Administration, College of Health Science and Public Health, Eastern Washington University, Spokane, Washington

References

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor: BLS Information. Available at https://www.bls.gov/bls/infohome.htm. Accessed March 30, 2019.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Recreational Therapists. Available at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/recreational-therapists.htm. Accessed April 29, 2019.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor: You're a What? Art Therapist. Available at https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/youre-a-what/art-therapist.htm. Accessed April 29, 2019.

ONet OnLine: Summary Report for 29-1129.00 -Therapists, All Other. Available at https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1129.00. Accessed April 29, 2019.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational Therapists. Available at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm#tab-1. Accessed April 29, 2019.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor: Occupational Employment Statistics. Available at https://www.bls.gov/oes/. Accessed March 30, 2019.

ATRA: Making connections moving forward: Presented at: The American Therapeutic Recreation Association Annual Conference, September 13-16, 2018; Grand Rapids, MI.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor: Standard Occupational Classification. Available at https://www.bls.gov/soc/socguide.htm. Accessed April 29, 2019.

National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification: Job analysis report. Available at https://www.nctrc.org/. Accessed February 28, 2019.

ACHCA: Activity programming in mental health. Presented at: The American College of Health Care Administrators 2019 Annual Convocation & Expo, March 19, 2019; Louisville, KY.

Published

07/01/2019

How to Cite

Hoss, PhD, CTRS, FACHE, FDRT, M. A. K. (2019). Recreational therapy workforce: An update. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 18(3), 9–15. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2019.0191

Issue

Section

Articles