DURHAM, N.C. — The demand for occupational therapists is increasing, especially in hospitals and schools. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said the need for more occupational therapists is projected to grow 12% from 2022 to 2032. This means more jobs and people are going to be relying on these services.

What You Need To Know

  •  April is Occupational Therapy Month

  •  There is an increasing demand for occupational therapists

  •  Occupational therapists help people of all ages meet goals and maintain skills 

 

Noam Shemer, a Durham Public Schools occupational therapist, said she’s not surprised to hear about the demand.

“I have only heard since working here that the numbers are rising and rising in terms of the populations that we serve, there’s a lot of students that were referred, especially last year, kind of in that aftermath of COVID, and we are having to meet that demand,” Shemer said. “So, we’ve hired more people, we are having to sort of find the gaps and have people cover more schools.”

Occupational therapists work with people of all ages. They can do anything from evaluating injuries, illnesses or disabilities, to helping people meet goals and maintain skills they need for everyday life.

In DPS, Shemer works with children. She’s helping them learn things like writing, drawing, playing, going to the bathroom and so much more.

Shemer was exposed to occupational therapy at an early age because her mom is an occupational therapist. Being in the profession herself now, she said is a huge privilege, especially as the demand for OTs is increasing.

“I think in our school district we have a very close and large OT team. We are about 30 therapists serving all of Durham, and I think there is enough of us,” Shemer said. “It’s more so maintaining people. We are always competing with other districts and other settings where people could be working, and I’m very biased in really liking my setting.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations between 2022 to 2032. The bureau also said there’s an increasing demand for OTs in hospitals; this is driven partly by baby boomers who want to live in their own homes, and openings in the field are expected in the next decade as more people retire.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said about 9,600 openings for occupational therapists are projected each year, on average, over the next decade.