The RAI believe an extra health and welfare sector 4483 jobs will be created in the Central West and Blue Mountains by 2023.

The most recent Census, compiled in 2016, showed there were exactly 4000 people in the Orange local government area who worked in the 'Health Care and Social Assistance' bracket.

With 21.2 per cent of jobs in the city, it represented the biggest field of employment in Orange, well ahead of 'Retail Trade' (2257), 'Education and Training' (1907) and 'Public Administration and Safety' (1653).

By way of comparison, the statewide 'Health Care and Social Assistance' employment rate in 2016 was 12.5 per cent.

And with the under-construction Bloomfield Medical Centre scheduled to be completed in October this year, and the ongoing push for increased palliative care services in the city, that figure will almost certainly rise.

Across the region there were more than 12,500 jobs in the healthcare and social assistance sector, and with the expected new jobs that will rise to 17,000 - an increase of 26.3 per cent.

As in Orange, health and welfare was the highest employing industry in Bathurst at 13.7 per cent, Dubbo (15.7 per cent), Mudgee (13.8 per cent), and Parkes (12.6 per cent).

In Cowra and Forbes it was the second largest employer accounting for 13.4 per cent and 12.2 per cent of employment respectively, while in Lithgow it ranked third largest at 10.6 per cent.

The RAI website showed there were 37 jobs for medical practitioners and nurses in the Central West, with a further 37 open for health diagnostic and therapy professionals.

RAI co-chief executive officer Dr Kim Houghton said this sector would see the biggest growth in job numbers of any industry in the coming years, with 250,000 more jobs projected to have been created nationwide by May, 2023.

"We are going to see significant demand for workers across the country, with registered nurses, childcare workers and aged care staff topping the list of occupations," he said.

Other areas of need will be for welfare workers, psychologists, general practitioners and physiotherapists.

Dr Houghton said this growing industry sector presented a "huge opportunity" for job seekers.

While many of these roles require high skill levels and a university degree, the industry also offers lower skilled entry-level positions.

Dr Houghton said the industry was supported by a range of non-health occupations including cooks, cleaners, receptionists and office managers who all provided essential services.