Rochester, N.Y.--In a challenging job market, one field appears to be holding steady.
The Department of Labor projects employment of registered nurses will grow 22% nationally from 2008-2018.
The University of Rochester is one of several local institutions with nursing programs, though competition is growing as the field grows.
There were 379 September applications received for just 58 positions according to Joanne Clements, Co-Director of Baccalaureate programs at the University of Rochester.
Monroe Community College's two-year program stands at 320 students and has no room to grow, according to Nursing Department Interim Chairperson Cheryl Mahoney.
Students are applying and graduating from programs in large part because of the opportunities provided by nursing.
"I think it is stability and security," said Mahoney.
In the Finger Lakes region, entry level nurses make $46,690 according to state labor data.
A degree may not guarantee employment.
"Everyone says there's a shortage of nurses, so everybody comes into the program thinking we'll have a job offer right after we graduate, but that really isn't the case," said U of R graduate Jenny Min.
She calls the job search "extremely difficult," but eventually landed a position with the University's hospital and will start work on Columbus Day.
"I'm very, very, very grateful and excited," added Min.
She says a lack of experience can hurt graduates, others feel economic troubles have forced veteran nurses to stay longer.
"We're being reassured by some employers that it's a temporary blip if you want to call it that," said Mahoney.
State labor data projects a 13.7 percent increase in nursing jobs by 2018.
