Hospitals, ambulatory care centers hired 34K workers last month

U.S. healthcare added almost 36,000 jobs in January, with most of the hiring being done by ambulatory health providers (around 23,000 new jobs) and hospitals (10,000).

So reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which noted healthcare has added some 361,000 jobs over the past 12 months.

The January tally bested the previous month’s jobs number by just under 8,000 across healthcare.

Only the construction industry had a better January than healthcare on the jobs front, as the former’s employment rolls grew by 44,000 positions.

Also competing well with healthcare were leisure and hospitality (tied at 36,000 new jobs), transportation and warehousing (+28,000), and professional and business services (+21,000).

Industries seeing falling openings included manufacturing (-12,000) and motor vehicles and parts (-11,000).

The statistics reflect findings from two monthly surveys. The bureau’s household survey gauges labor force status, including unemployment, by demographic characteristics. Meanwhile its establishment survey takes account of nonfarm employment, hours and earnings by industry.

Dave Pearson

Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.

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