Healthcare industry hiring in March saw the smallest increase in a year, as providers continue to experience staffing shortages and COVID-19 cases are on a slow decline.
Healthcare companies added an estimated 8,300 jobs in March, down from 66,400 in February, according to preliminary data the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Friday. The industry contributed to a total of 431,000 new jobs across the economy.
Last month saw the smallest uptick in helathcare hiring since March 2021, when the industry gained 6,000 jobs.
Home health service providers, hospitals and health practitioners experienced the largest gains among healthcare employers last month. Despite falling well below pre-pandemic levels, the hospital sector has been on a slow upward trend since September.
Over the past year, the healthcare sector gained 228,000 jobs, although the industry is still down by 294,000 positions, about 1.8%, since the pandemic began.