Hospitals, physician offices expand employment

Hospital employment grew by 7,900 positions in November, helping to make healthcare and social assistance one of the fastest growing industry segments of the year, according to seasonally adjusted figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Total hospital employment reached 4.346 million, up from 4.338 million in October, the bureau said. Since November 2003, hospitals added 67,600 employees. Employment at physicians' offices also rose last month, by 6,400 positions to 2.082 million. Compared with November 2003, doctors offices added 59,100 employees. Overall, the healthcare and social assistance segment created 28,000 new jobs in November and 316,000 jobs since November 2003, the bureau said. Besides hospitals and doctors offices, the segment includes nursing homes, residential care and social assistance. -- by Paul Barr