The home health industry has been a bright spot in the health care sector and the nation’s employment numbers overall, with 12,000 jobs added in November according to the latest jobs report.
Health care employment rose by 28,000 in November, with job gains concentrated in ambulatory care, indicates the November 2013 jobs report released in early December by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Home health accounted for nearly 43% of those jobs.
“In contrast to the strength in ambulatory care, nursing care facilities cut 4,000 jobs, and hospital employment remained essentially unchanged over the month,” the BLS report notes. Other component industries within ambulatory health care showed “modest” month-over-month employment increases.
Home health care employment growth has increased by an average of 7,000 jobs per month in 2013, compared to 6,000 a month in 2012 and 4,000 in 2011.
The national unemployment rate declined from 7.3% to 7% in November.
View highlights of the November report here.
Written by Alyssa Gerace
