Health care adds jobs in March, but monthly gains lower than 6-month average

U.S. employment remained stable in March, but health care job additions were lower than in recent months.

The figures were part of the latest report from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published April 7. The national employment rate was 3.5%, with 5.8 million people out of work, and with both figures changing little since early 2022, according to BLS.

Health care added 33,900 jobs last month, lower than the average monthly gain of 54,000 over the prior six months, the report said. Home health services led the sector with 15,200 jobs, accounting for much of the gain within ambulatory health care.

Physician offices added 2,000 jobs and other practitioners added 1,900 workers, but those gains were offset by losses in offices of dentists, outpatient care centers, and medical and diagnostic laboratories.

In health care, hospitals added 10,900 new positions, while nursing and residential care facilities added 8,000 workers and skilled nursing care facilities hired 3,400 workers, according to the BLS figures.