WASHINGTON – Employment in the U.S. healthcare sector increased by 20,000 jobs in July, although the national unemployment rate was little changed at 9.4 percent, according to recent data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Approximately 4,200 of the 20,000 new healthcare jobs were in the hospital sector, while 9,600 jobs were gained in the ambulatory care sector and 5,800 in nursing and residential care facilities.
The BLS reported that the gain in healthcare jobs was "about in line" with the average monthly gain for the first half of this year, but down from an average monthly increase of 30,000 during 2008.
Overall, nonfarm payroll employment fell by 247,000 jobs in July. From May to July, however, job losses averaged 331,000 per month, compared with losses averaging 645,000 per month from November to April.
Since the recession began in December 2007, payroll employment has fallen by 6.7 million.
