The largest employment gains include an additional 29,000 jobs in clinicians' offices. Hospitals created 4,000 jobs.
Healthcare added 46,000 jobs in November, the seventh consecutive month of job gains for the sector, according to the latest federal jobs report, released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Friday.
However, the healthcare sector has 527,000 fewer jobs at the end of November than in February, BLS said.
The bulk of the new healthcare sector jobs in November (+29,000) were in physicians, dentists, and other provider offices, and home healthcare services (+13,000). Nursing homes shed 12,000 jobs. Hospitals created 4,000 jobs, BLS data show.
November's numbers mark a decrease from the 58,000 healthcare jobs created in October, and the 53,000 jobs created in September, and well below the 75,000 jobs created in August, 126,000 jobs created in July, and the 318,000 jobs created in June.
The healthcare sector endured epic job losses in the spring owing to the coronavirus pandemic. In May, the sector saw 312,000 payroll additions, mostly in outpatient care venues.
Healthcare employed nearly 16 million people in November, down from 16.5 million in February. Hospitals employed 5.1 million people in November, about 100,000 fewer than in February.
The November job report largely reflects the state of the economy in mid-month and is considered preliminary and subject to considerable revision.
In the overall economy, payroll employment grew by a sluggish 245,000 in November, which BLS blamed on the coronavirus pandemic.
"These improvements in the labor market reflect the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it," BLS said. "However, the pace of improvement in the labor market has moderated in recent months."
The unemployment rate dropped from 6.9% to 6.7% for the month.
“The pace of improvement in the labor market has moderated in recent months.”
Bureau of Labor Statistics
John Commins is the news editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The healthcare sector has 527,000 fewer jobs at the end of November than in February. The healthcare sector endured epic job losses in the spring owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
The bulk of the new healthcare sector jobs in November (+29,000) were in physicians, dentists, and other provider offices, and home healthcare services (+13,000).
Healthcare employed nearly 16 million people in November, down from 16.5 million in February. Hospitals employed 5.1 million people in November, about 100,000 fewer than in February.
In the overall economy, payroll employment grew by a sluggish 245,000 in November, which BLS blamed on the coronavirus pandemic.