Healthcare added 26,000 jobs in March, which equaled its monthly average for the past year, while unemployment in the wider economy ticked down to 8.2% nationwide.

Taken together, all sectors of healthcare grew by 0.2% during the month, according to seasonally adjusted preliminary figures (PDF) released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Healthcare has remained a growth sector in the economy over the past year, averaging about 25,100 jobs per month, or 0.2%.

For the 12 months ended in March, healthcare added 337,700 jobs, for one-year growth of 2.4% among a workforce of 14.3 million, the figures show.

Hospitals added 8,100 jobs in March, or 0.2%, which was slightly above the monthly average for the past year. For the 12 months ended in March, hospitals have added 102,600 jobs, for a one-year growth rate of 2.2% and workforce of 4.8 million.

Physician offices added 7,600 jobs in the month, or 0.3%, growing slightly faster than its one-year average. For the 12 months ended in March, physician offices have added 75,900 jobs, for a one-year growth rate of 3.3% and a workforce of 2.4 million.