Career Trends: Rehabilitation Counselors

Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, and emotional disabilities live independently. They work with clients to overcome or manage the personal, social, or psychological effects of disabilities on employment or independent living.

Rehabilitation counselors work in a variety of settings, such as community rehabilitation centers, senior citizen centers, and youth guidance organizations. Most work full time.

Rehabilitation counselors typically need a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling or a related field. Some positions require certification or a license.

Employment of rehabilitation counselors is projected to grow 9 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for rehabilitation counselors is expected to grow with the increase in the elderly population and with the continued rehabilitation needs of other groups, such as veterans and people with disabilities.

This occupation supported 117,500 jobs in 2012 and 120,100 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 2.2%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 19.9% in 2022 to 140,900 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 122,100, compared with an observed value of 120,100, 1.6% lower than expected. This indicates current employment trends are about on track with the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 9.2% in 2024 to 130,900 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 145,500 jobs for 2024, 11.2% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation.