Healthcare sector saw highest job growth in March

Healthcare added more jobs than any other employment sector in March.

The sector added 49,100 jobs last month, continuing its pattern of unpredictable, month-to-month spikes and dips, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ newest jobs report. March’s number represents a 136% jump from February’s weak hiring count, which was down 50% from January. Still, it was the biggest hiring month so far in 2019, even approaching December 2018’s historic high of 49,500.

Within healthcare, ambulatory healthcare services assumed its usual position as the top hirer, adding 27,000 jobs in March, up 27% from February. Home healthcare services reported the most job growth within the ambulatory sector, adding 8,000 jobs, a 70.2% spike from February. Physicians’ offices boosted their numbers by 7,000 jobs, up 126% over the prior month, and dentists’ offices added 5,100 jobs, up 96%.

Hospitals added 13,600 jobs in March, up more than 220% from February, a month in which hospital hiring was weak.

Nursing and residential care facilities added 8,500 jobs in March, up significantly from just 1,100 new jobs in February. Within that sector, community care facilities for the elderly added 3,800 jobs, a vast improvement from February in which it shed 500 jobs.

The overall U.S. unemployment rate remained at 3.8% in March, and total nonfarm payroll employment grew by 196,000 jobs.

Healthcare, which grew by 398,000 jobs over the past 12 months, added more jobs in March than professional and technical services, which added 34,000 jobs. Employment in food services and drinking places trended up last month, adding 27,000 jobs. Construction employment changed little in March, adding 16,000 jobs. Computer systems design added 12,000 jobs during the month.

https://www.modernhealthcare.com/providers/healthcare-sector-saw-highest-job-growth-march