Rad Tech Job Market in/near NYC

Please any and all Rad Techs, especially those of you in NYC, I'd appreciate your input here.

I am currently in the first semester of X-Ray tech school in the NYC area. Will I be able to find a job after graduation? I've heard mixed things from faculty and students... basically that the field is not "as good as it used to be" but still better than most in this economy. Then you hear that "things should pick up by the time you graduate (2011)"... but how true is this really? When I first became interested in Rad Tech several years ago (couldn't jump on it right away as I'm in my 30's and had to line up my ducks, plus spend a while on prereqs), seemed to be real good pay, and what really appealed to me was the mobility to move pretty much anywhere and find a job.

But now, seems to be SOOO many factors working against Rad Tech - the oversaturation which has been discussed to death on these forums, the possible effects of the impending Health Care Bill, the advancing technology making radiographs easier to take thus needing fewer staff, etc. What are your thoughts on this?? Is there any hope for the future, any factors which you can think of that would convince me to stick it out in this program?? How about the NYC market specifically?

I have been an RT for approximately two years. Although I am currently employed the field is flooded!!!! Not a lot of stability, also makes it hard to market yourself, I would advise following a different career if I had to do it over again.

Of course there's hope for the future - will people stop getting sick? Baby boomer's are all old enough to join AARP (that was quite a shock, believe me) and our bodies reflect that. There's no end to illness and disease, no end to the need for qualified healthcare professionals.

Every 8-10 years, there is a cycle in radiography. The short version is - shortage of qualified staff along with projected growth by healthcare facilities/ expansion in current radiography programs and start-up of new ones to meet the demand/ graduation of thousands of new graduates feeling 'entitled' to a job/ saturation of the job market.

Couple our regular cycle with the current crippled economy + changes in the healthcare industry (increased legislation and decreased reimbusement) means that not only are there new graduates with no job, seasoned veterans are facing layoffs.

But the world isn't likely to run out of sick people. There will always be a need for qualified imagers, and as RT's retire, new ones will take their places. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities will expand, some will fail. But those who went into radiography with an expectation of high wages and unlimited overtime have been caught off guard.

Healthcare, just like every other industry is facing challenges not seen in recent memory. How to spend smarter, not more. How to serve the populations we're responsible to without going bankrupt in the process. For all those who want to whine about 'greedy' hospital administrators - are you aware that almost 30% of hospital care is charity? It's money that hospitals never recoup - not from any insurance company and not from the patient.

I'm sorry that so many colleagues and new graduates are not working. But imaging is a dynamic, vibrant profession. It may not be pretty, but it will survive.

UncertainGuy in Astoria, New York said: Please any and all Rad Techs, especially those of you in NYC, I'd appreciate your input here.

I am currently in the first semester of X-Ray tech school in the NYC area. Will I be able to find a job after graduation? I've heard mixed things from faculty and students... basically that the field is not "as good as it used to be" but still better than most in this economy. Then you hear that "things should pick up by the time you graduate (2011)"... but how true is this really? When I first became interested in Rad Tech several years ago (couldn't jump on it right away as I'm in my 30's and had to line up my ducks, plus spend a while on prereqs), seemed to be real good pay, and what really appealed to me was the mobility to move pretty much anywhere and find a job.

But now, seems to be SOOO many factors working against Rad Tech - the oversaturation which has been discussed to death on these forums, the possible effects of the impending Health Care Bill, the advancing technology making radiographs easier to take thus needing fewer staff, etc. What are your thoughts on this?? Is there any hope for the future, any factors which you can think of that would convince me to stick it out in this program?? How about the NYC market specifically?

I graduated in May from radiology school. I've been looking for a job for a month now and not even one interview. I keep hearing the market is saturated. I am hoping to go to ultrasound school but now worried I won't find a job for it either.
Good Luck!