Its no secret that job growth within the health care industry is booming as the American population ages.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 19 percent - an increase of 526,800 jobs - from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for most other occupations.

The number of jobs for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) is expected to grow by a whopping 25 percent in that same time frame, an increase of 738,400 jobs.

A national emphasis on preventative care, growing rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity, and baby boomers who are living longer, more active lives have all led to an increased demand for health care professionals.

In Missoula County, that trend has far-reaching implications, as the local economy is dependent on the health care industry and hundreds of college students are receiving the training necessary to enter the field.

According to a recent study by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana, 17 percent of the countys economic base depends on the medical sector.

The health care industry generates more than $545 million in labor earnings every year, making it by far the largest source of income in Missoula County's economy, according to a report by economist Larry Swanson, director of the OConnor Center for the Rocky Mountain West.

Since 2001, the health care industry has grown much more explosively than any other sector in Missoula, increasing personal income by $232 million.

The single occupation in Missoula with the highest projected growth until 2020 with an additional 2,000 jobs expected at least is registered nursing. Those jobs pay a median of $56,790 per year in Montana, but require a high level of education and training.

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Health care students at Missoula College find jobs aplenty