Report: Healthcare takes 10.7% share of U.S. employment
U.S. healthcare employment accounted for 10.7 percent of total employment in January, an increase of more than one percentage point since 2007, according to a recent report from Altarum Institute.
"Employment grew in all of the major healthcare settings, with outpatient care centers showing the highest 12-month rate of increase (5.3 percent) and hospitals the lowest (0.7 percent)," the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based nonprofit research and consulting organization stated.
The total unemployment rate for January was 9 percent, according to the report.
Altarum cited Feb. 4 data from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics that show private sector healthcare employment increased by 10,600 in January. This is the smallest increase in nearly two years and well below the 24-month average increase of 20,400, according to the Altarum report. However, the lack of job growth elsewhere in the U.S. economy allowed healthcare to take a 10.7 percent share.
In January, ambulatory healthcare services added 8,000 jobs, Altarum reported. Within ambulatory healthcare services:
During the past 12 months, outpatient care center employment has grown most quickly–5.3 percent since January 2010. Offices of physicians have added 26,000 jobs since January 2010 (1.1 percent growth), and about two-thirds of those have come in the last 6 months. Hospitals also added a larger number of jobs (33,600) but, due to the size of this sector, the growth rate was only 0.7 percent, according to the report.
Since December 2007, healthcare employment has increased by 6.3 percent while non-health employment has fallen by 6.8 percent, the report stated.
"Employment grew in all of the major healthcare settings, with outpatient care centers showing the highest 12-month rate of increase (5.3 percent) and hospitals the lowest (0.7 percent)," the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based nonprofit research and consulting organization stated.
The total unemployment rate for January was 9 percent, according to the report.
Altarum cited Feb. 4 data from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics that show private sector healthcare employment increased by 10,600 in January. This is the smallest increase in nearly two years and well below the 24-month average increase of 20,400, according to the Altarum report. However, the lack of job growth elsewhere in the U.S. economy allowed healthcare to take a 10.7 percent share.
In January, ambulatory healthcare services added 8,000 jobs, Altarum reported. Within ambulatory healthcare services:
- Offices of physicians added 2,100 jobs;
- Outpatient care centers added 2,500 jobs; and
- Home healthcare services added 4,300 jobs.
During the past 12 months, outpatient care center employment has grown most quickly–5.3 percent since January 2010. Offices of physicians have added 26,000 jobs since January 2010 (1.1 percent growth), and about two-thirds of those have come in the last 6 months. Hospitals also added a larger number of jobs (33,600) but, due to the size of this sector, the growth rate was only 0.7 percent, according to the report.
Since December 2007, healthcare employment has increased by 6.3 percent while non-health employment has fallen by 6.8 percent, the report stated.