The healthcare services sector added 20,000 jobs in November, representing an increase of 0.1% from October and bringing total healthcare employment in the country to 14.5 million, according to preliminary seasonally adjusted data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Within that sector, hospitals increased their job count by 8,300 in November—an increase of 0.2% from October. Hospital employment now stands at 4.8 million, according to the BLS.

Employment at physician offices, meanwhile, rose by 1,700 in November to 2.45 million people, an increase of 0.1%

For the 12 months ended in November, the healthcare services sector expanded by 313,100 jobs, a 2.2% increase. Hospitals added 82,200 employees over the 12-month period, an increase of 1.7%. Employment by physician offices increased by 65,700 jobs in the same period for growth of 2.8%.

Healthcare's rising ranks contributed to an increase in total nonfarm employment of 146,000 in November, as the nationwide unemployment rate dropped to 7.7% from 7.9% in October, according to the BLS.