What impact could you make?
It's such a privilege to be part of women and families' lives at such a special time. I feel being a midwife is a well-rounded practical and emotional job which is very rewarding.SiobhainCommunity Midwife, NHS Scotland
Healthcare at a glance
You could work with the public or provide support behind the scenes. The range of jobs within healthcare goes way beyond doctors and nurses. There are opportunities for accountants, chefs, software designers and more.
Employment
In 2024, there were around 267,000 people working in healthcare across Scotland.
Future demand
Between 2024 and 2027, it's expected there will be 29,900 people needed to fill job openings.
Job diversity
In 2024, the social care sector accounted for 10.1% of employed Scots. With such a large workforce, there are opportunities for people of all backgrounds across the country to work alongside each other.
Play your part in creating a healthier world
We’ve pulled out some of the most popular healthcare job profiles for you to explore.
Things you may not know about healthcare
NHS Scotland is the biggest employer in the country, providing jobs to people in more than 70 different professions.
Source: Scotland.org
In response to COVID-19, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's clinical physics team converted 100 anaesthetic machines to ventilators.
Source: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Photography brand Canon has a team in Edinburgh with more than 120 engineers, scientists and clinical experts working to deliver world-leading software and technology used in hospitals.
Source: Life Sciences in Scotland
What subjects you could take in school
We've pulled together some examples of subjects and Foundation Apprenticeships (FAs) that could be useful for getting into a healthcare career.
English
Chemistry
Maths
Physics
Science
Psychology
Biology
Organisations making a difference
Discover some of the organisations within healthcare and how they’re making an impact on the industry.
