Following national trends, Alaska's healthcare sector continues to expand. The Alaska department of Labor and Workforce Development has identified home health aide as one of the state's fastest-growing occupations, with the number of aides expected to increase by 60% between 2004 and 2014. Meanwhile, nursing and residential care facilities constitute one of Alaska's fastest-growing industries, with employment growth projected to reach 78% by 2014.

Many Alaska schools offer degree and training programs that can get you in on the ground floor of Alaska's healthcare system. An associate's or bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, for example, can prepare you for healthcare management jobs. Interested in joining the ranks of home health aides? Check out Alaska degrees in nursing or geriatric health.

Alaska healthcare occupations can be financially as well as personally rewarding. Alaska nurses, for example, make a median annual salary approaching $60,000, while professionals in healthcare administration and management can earn more than $100,000 a year. If you want to help others while working in an expanding career, there's no time like the present to become part of Alaska's healthcare industry.