Healthcare jobs not slowing down

Healthcare continues to be one of the bright spots in national employment. Although the unemployment rate across industries remains at 8.2 percent, healthcare jobs continue an upward trend, while other industries remained unchanged, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday.   

Healthcare added 32,800 jobs in May, with employment in the sector rising by 340,000 during the year.

Of that, hospitals added 4,500 jobs in May, according to the BLS data. Ambulatory services jobs rose by 22,800 over the month, including physician offices (9,900), outpatient care centers (4,600) and home healthcare services (6,900). Nursing and residential care facilities added 5,500 jobs last month.

According to business researcher The Conference Board, demand for healthcare practitioners, in particular, rose in May. The increase is largely due to more advertised vacancies for registered nurses, pharmacy technicians and radiologic technologists, with the number of advertised openings in this occupational category outnumbering job seekers two to one, according to a company statement last week.

Overall, healthcare jobs will grow twice as fast as the general economy, with an additional 4.2 million jobs by 2020, according to an April study by Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University at Albany. Nearly one in nine U.S. jobs will be in the healthcare sector by 2020.

To learn more:
- here's the BLS statement
- check out the BLS data
- see the Conference Board announcement

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