April brought “widespread” growth of jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday morning, and a return to normal for job growth in the healthcare sector.
Healthcare employment didn’t grow by eye-popping numbers, but after a stretch of little change, April marked the second month of what the sector normally averages. In April, the U.S. healthcare sector grew by about 19,000 jobs, close to the prior year’s average of 17,000 job gains per month.
All healthcare categories experienced gains in April, with ambulatory care services taking the lead with a gain of 12,600. Physician offices and nursing and residential care facilities followed with gains of 5,600 and 4,400, respectively. Hospitals gained a modest 1,700 jobs.
[See also: Spring brings a return to job growth.]
Overall, U.S. nonfarm payroll enrollment rose by 288,000 and the unemployment rate ticked down from 6.7 percent to 6.3 percent. Employment growth was widespread, BLS said, headed by gains in professional and business services, retail trade, food and drinking places and construction.
Outside the healthcare sector, large gains were seen in professional and business services (75,000), with growth seen in temporary health services (24,000), management of companies and enterprises (12,000) and in computer systems design and related services (9,000).
Retail trade rose by 35,000; food services and drinking places by 33,000; and construction by 32,000.