The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examined how many of the tens of thousands of manufacturing workers who accepted buyouts from U.S. automakers during the past 18 months have begun to seek careers in the health care industry.

According to the Journal, careers in the health care industry have become the "most popular choice" for former auto manufacturing workers because they "pay well" and are "less vulnerable to being outsourced." Auto manufacturing workers have annual salaries of about $54,000, compared with between $60,000 and $62,000 for registered nurses and dental hygienists.

Ford Motor said that 40% of former manufacturing workers who accepted a buyout that included $15,000 over four years to cover education expenses decided to seek careers in the health care industry, with about half enrolled in nursing programs and the remainder enrolled in radiology, dental hygiene and pharmacology programs. Michigan colleges and United Auto Workers also said that enrollment in nursing and other health care programs by former manufacturing workers has increased.

Marty Mulloy, head of labor relations for Ford, said, "Health care is where the jobs are." Andy Levin, deputy director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, said, "Every hospital in Michigan needs nurses, and every school had a nursing waiting list," adding, "The health care industry is a growth sector we want to foster" (McCracken, Wall Street Journal, 9/11).