Healthcare job growth dips in March

Healthcare wasn't immune to a slowdown in overall U.S. job creation in March. The sector created 6,900 fewer jobs compared with the previous month, according to preliminary, seasonally adjusted figures released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The 23,400 jobs the healthcare sector created for the month was close, however, to the 12-month average. The total healthcare jobs created in March represent 27% of the 88,000 U.S. jobs added in overall nonfarm employment. Healthcare also was one of the highlights for the sluggish month. The number of retail trade jobs, for example, decreased by 24,000, according to the BLS.

Some providers have warned that federal budget cuts could jeopardize the reliability of healthcare as a jobs source as the economic recovery continues to drag. The American Hospital Association calculated that the spending cuts known as the sequester—including a 2% cut to Medicare pay that hit April 1—could mean as many as 766,000 fewer healthcare and related jobs by 2021.

The overall job creation reflected a significant dip from the 268,000 jobs added in February—that figure was adjusted up from a preliminary 236,000 reported last month. Meanwhile, the jobless rate remained stable at 7.6%, compared with 7.7% in February.

Ambulatory services again led the way in healthcare, adding 15,300 jobs after adding 11,400 the previous month. The March figure includes 3,200 in outpatient-care centers and 1,000 in physician offices. Almost 226,000 jobs were added in ambulatory service since March 2012, a 3.6% increase for the year.

Hospitals added 7,900 positions for the month, compared with 10,700 in February. Hospitals added 61,400 jobs in the past 12 months, a 1.3% rise.

Home healthcare registered the biggest gain for a 12-month period—a 7% increase—with 82,400 jobs added. Home healthcare added 6,800 jobs in March, compared with 6,500 in February.