Healthcare sector driving U.S. job growth

According to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 25% of of the 117,000 new jobs created in the U.S. in July were in healthcare.

Healthcare created 31,300 new jobs for the month and 170,900 new jobs in the first seven months of 2011. 

A further breakdown of the BLS preliminary data for July 2011 shows that within the healthcare sector:

• Hospitals gained 14,000 new jobs, despite widespread reports of layoffs due primarily to state Medicaid cuts
• Ambulatory services created 14,100 new jobs, and has been responsible for 55% (94,000) of new jobs in healthcare in the first seven months of 2011
• Physicians' offices reported 6,300 payroll additions

The healthcare sector accounted for nearly 14.1 million of the nation’s jobs in July.

Sources:

• Health Leaders Media - Healthcare Sector Drives U.S. Job Growth
• United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics