The healthcare industry continued to add jobs in June, gaining nearly 20,000, including a rebound in the hospital sector, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday.
The hospital sector added 4,500 jobs in June, following a loss of 8,000 in May. May’s hospital employment numbers were originally reported by the BLS as a loss of 5,900, but in its report Friday, the agency noted that it had revised April and May employment numbers.
[See also: Healthcare gains fewer jobs.]
While employment gains in doctors’ offices were strong in May, they slowed down in June, with a slight gain of 200 jobs. Home healthcare services continued climbing, gaining 6,800 jobs. Of the healthcare sectors, only nursing care facilities lost jobs (600) in June.
According to national media reports, the country’s overall employment numbers beat economists’ expectations. Total nonfarm payroll increased by 195,000 in June, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.6 percent.
In addition to healthcare, sectors with employment increases include leisure and hospitality (75,000), professional and business services (53,000), retail trade (37,000) and financial activities (17,000). Jobs in the federal government continued to decrease, with a loss of 5,000 in June.
The BLS’ revision of the April and May employment figures resulted in the addition of 70,000 jobs gained for the combined months.
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