Healthcare employment grew by 26,000 jobs in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Friday. In general, healthcare jobs rose from 14,261,200 in February to 14,287,200 in March, seasonally adjusted. Of those, hospitals added 8,100 jobs, up from 4,800,500 jobs in February to 4,808,600 jobs in March. Ambulatory healthcare services, including physician offices, outpatient care centers and home healthcare services, gained 12,100 jobs, up from 6,277,000 jobs in February to 6,289,100 last month. Nursing and residential care facilities gained 5,800 jobs, up from 3,183,700 in February to 3,189,500 in March.
While unemployment moved little at a steady 8.2 percent, the U.S. saw gains in healthcare, as well as in manufacturing and food services and drinking places, according to the BLS report. Healthcare jobs will grow twice as fast the general economy, with an additional 4.2 million jobs by 2020, according to a study by Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University at Albany. Hospital jobs, specifically, will rise from 5.7 million jobs in 2010 to 6.6 million in 2020. BLS press release