Late News: Healthcare sector gains 21,000 jobs in Nov.: BLS

The healthcare sector posted moderate job growth in November, as strong hiring by hospitals was offset by job losses in outpatient-care centers. Preliminary seasonally adjusted figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show the healthcare industry gained 21,000 jobs in November for a 0.2% monthly growth rate. Healthcare has added 283,200 jobs in the 12 months ended in November, a 2% expansion during that time. Hospitals added 6,800 jobs in November, continuing a third straight month of strong hiring. Hospitals have grown their personnel rosters by 1% since last November, adding 53,000 jobs to a workforce of 4.7 million. Physician-office staffing grew by 3,800 workers, or 0.2%, in November, and has increased by 2% in the 12 months ended last month, adding 53,500 jobs to a workforce of 2.3 million in the past year. Outpatient-care centers shed 3,300 jobs in November, which was at least the second month this year that the sector has posted losses of that size. Such clinics have grown by 1% in the past year, adding 7,100 jobs to a workforce of 544,000.