Jeanne Whalen

Healthcare has created consistent job growth for a number of reasons.

One is that our society is aging quickly, and so elderly people need more healthcare.

That means that our spending on healthcare has really accelerated in recent decades.

What's more, there are very high levels of chronic illness in U.S.

society.

There are also a lot more medical tests and procedures these days than there used to be.

So all of that has conspired to really drive up health care spending and demand for health care workers.

Demand for registered nurses over the next decade is expected to grow by about 5% versus 30%.

Three percent for jobs in all occupations and demand for advanced degree nurses is expected to grow by about 35 percent, which is a huge increase over the next decade.

It's almost the end of the year, which gets a nerd like me thinking, how did the economy do this year?

Fortunately, I know some people who know things.

We have a Wall Street Journal economic dream team here.

So could each of you introduce yourselves?

Sure.

I'm Jean Whalen.

I'm an economics reporter for the Wall Street Journal in Chicago.

And if you could summarize the state of the economy right now in a single word, what would it be?

Uncertain.

Meh.

Meh.