The nation's unemployment rate hit 7.6 percent in January. With each passing day more layoffs are announced, resulting in more Americans looking for work in a time when many companies are not adding to their workforces.

One profession that seems to be exempt from the current employment downturn is home care. The occupation of caregiving is forecasted to be the secondfastestgrowing job group in the nation over the next decade. Very soon the workforce demand may outpace the supply.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in California the home care aide job category is expected to increase from 284,200 jobs in 2006 to 361,100 positions in 2016—a projected 27 percent increase.

Compare that to the 65 and older population in our state, which is projected to increase to 8,288,241 by 2030, and it is plain to see that our society could have a caregiving crisis on its hands in the years to come.

To be a caregiver in our industry a person must enjoy working with and helping seniors remain in their homes. Caregiving duties can include such things as meal preparation, light housekeeping, running errands and socialization, all of which bring happiness to the senior and peace of mind to family members.

Professional caregiving provides a flexible part-time option for additional income or a new career in a fulfilling job field. Anyone thinking about a caregiving career should visit www .heartofacaregiver.com, where they will find important information about the industry as well as a self-assessment tool that will help them gauge whether this would be a good fit for their skills and interests. Laurie Reid Simi Valley  

Reid coowns the Home Instead Senior Care franchise in Simi Valley.