Healthcare jobs increase slightly in October

Healthcare added 30,500 jobs in October and the overall U.S. economy gained 171,000 new jobs, according to preliminary figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Healthcare employment totaled 14.45 million as of October. Over the course of the 12 months preceding October, healthcare hiring increased by 296,300, or 2.1 percent. That hiring rate was above the monthly average for the prior 12 months of 24,700 new jobs.

The 6,200 jobs added to hospitals in October—an increase of 0.1 percent—bring the sector's employment to 4.84 million, according to the preliminary figures. The gains were close to the monthly average of 6,800 for the prior 12-month period. For the year that ended last month, hospitals added 81,400 employees, an increase of 1.7 percent.

Physician offices added 11,200 jobs in October, an increase of 0.5 percent over September, bringing total physician office employment to 2.45 million. For the prior 12 months, physician offices added an average of 5,700 jobs per month.

For the year ended last month, physician offices added 68,300 jobs—a 2.9 percent gain.