Dive Brief:
- The healthcare sector added 45,000 jobs in November, compared to about 54,000 in October, according to preliminary data out Friday from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Ambulatory health services led the gains with 23,000 added jobs, followed by hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, each adding about 10,000 jobs.
- Similar to last month's jobs report, the BLS reiterated that employment in the industry has grown much faster this year than last. Healthcare has added an average of 47,000 jobs per month this year compared to 9,000 in 2021.
Dive Insight:
Healthcare jobs recovered from early pandemic losses this year, with strong and consistent gains particularly among ambulatory healthcare services and hospitals.
Hospital job fluctuation through COVID-19 pandemic
Since November of last year, hospitals have added over 130,000 jobs. Ambulatory services have added over 300,000 jobs.
Ambulatory service jobs rebound steadily through pandemic
Nursing and residential care facilities have boosted the industry's job gains overall this year, after those facilities suffered major job losses throughout the first year of the pandemic.
Every sector within the healthcare industry added jobs in November. Other notable gains came from outpatient care centers and home health services, both adding about 6,000 jobs during the month.