Healthcare adds jobs while U.S. economy struggles

Healthcare continued to be one of the few bright spots in the U.S. job market last month, despite the rest of the economy continuing to feel pain.

The overall U.S. employment rate hit its highest level in almost three decades last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, climbing to a record 8.1 percent. This comes close to the last record, in 1982, when unemployment hit 10.8 percent.

However, hospitals and physicians added 47,100 workers in 2009 to date, and in February alone, hospitals added 6,800 workers, bringing total employment to 4.7 million that sector. Physicians' offices added 6,300 workers last month, up 0.3 percent, leaving total employment at 3.2 million.

To learn more about the healthcare employment situation:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece (reg. req.)