Healthcare employment up in February

Editor's Note

Healthcare employment in the US rose by 52,000 from February to March, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), released on March 7. The figure is in line with the average monthly gain of 54,000 over the past 12 months.

As reported by ABC News, the overall monthly gain in total nonfarm payroll employment of 151,000 falls short of economists’ expectations.

In February, BLS data show healthcare employment also trended up in:

• ambulatory healthcare services rose by 26,000
• hospital employment rose by 15,000
• nursing and residential care facilities rose by 12,000

The unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.1%, according to a BLS news release. The number of unemployed people, at 7.1 million, also changed little, remaining in the same 4.0-4.2% range maintained since May 2024.