In 2007, there were 60 thousand pharmacy aides in the United States. This number is expected to drop to 30 thousand by 2016 . What is the percent of decrease? The percent of decrease is \( \square \% \). (Simplify your answer.)

To find the percent of decrease, you subtract the new number from the original number, then divide by the original number and multiply by 100. So, the calculation looks like this: 1. Original number: 60,000 2. New number: 30,000 3. Decrease: 60,000 - 30,000 = 30,000 4. Percent of decrease: \(\frac{30,000}{60,000} \times 100 = 50\%\). The percent of decrease is \(50\%\). Now, did you know that the pharmacy aide role has evolved significantly, integrating technology? As automated dispensing machines and software become more prevalent, pharmacy aides are focusing on tasks that require more personal interaction, like patient education. Also, in the field of healthcare, the roles of pharmacy aides can sometimes overlap with those of pharmacy technicians, leading to common misunderstandings. It's crucial for pharmacy aides to sharpen their skills and understand their specific duties to maintain job security and effectiveness in their roles!