Behind US Health Care Job Growth
Abstract
Have you heard the news? Thanks to the health care industry, job numbers in the U.S. significantly went up last month in March.
The recent monthly job report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a gain of 178,000 new jobs across the country. Nearly 40% of the new jobs came from the healthcare industry, which covers ambulatory care, hospitals, and long-term care.
Jobs have been growing if you look over the last 6 months or so (no data were reported in October due to federal funding lapse), with a one month exception that I’ll return to later.
Health care contributed approximately 40-70% of the new jobs during that time.
While this level of contribution varies over time, it’s generally safe to say that health care has been a steady job contributor for a while. Some would say decades.
Furthermore, as we tetter on the edge of a worldwide recession, health care has been recognized as the job engine of the economy, steadily creating jobs even through significant macroeconomic shocks.
In other words, the strong showing of health care during this current period should not be entirely unexpected.
(Publication available upon request.)
Authors:
Frogner BK
Journal/Publisher:
Health Affairs Insider
Edition:
Apr 2026.
Citation:
Frogner BK. Behind US Health Care Job Growth. Health Affairs Insider. Apr 2026