More Demand for Safety Professionals in the Future

The National Safety Counsel is predicting the need for qualified Occupational and Safety professionals is increasing. This trend is expected to continue for the next decade. However there is a problem. The amount of qualified candidates is decreasing. The reason: more Universities and Colleges have cut programs in this area due to funding restrictions. Also the current demand is low because of the recession. This is giving a false sense of lack of interest in the field. However, as the economy rebounds, more employers will be looking to fill jobs for safety and occupational health. This will put the current crop of young graduates in the drivers seat in a few years. However the decreasing trend could create a void in the marketplace and put a strain on employers and their insurance carriers. I am a firm believer that these professionals help keep the insurance industry in business because of risk mitigation. Studies show that employers with in house safety personel have less claims and pay less premiums. Keep an eye on this situation as it could affect all of us in this profession.  Until next time be careful out there and know your risks. K

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