Health Job Growth Slows; Doc Offices Shed Jobs

Health care employment may be continuing to grow, but it is at a slower rate than the rest of the year, according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And one sector of the industry actually lost jobs in June.

Health care has been one industry that has pretty consistently seen an upward trend in employment. Overall, health care added 13,000 jobs last month, the largest new job growth of nonfarm payroll employment and accounting for 16% of all new jobs in the U.S.

However, the 13,000 new jobs is half as much as the industry’s average monthly growth. That’s also 1,000 jobs less than were added in June 2011.

And while, most sectors within health care enjoyed more new jobs, there was a downside. Employment at physician offices was down by 3.4% from May 2012 to June 2012. However, it is still up year over year by 3.27%.

Overall the health care industry is up by 13% over the previous month with the biggest increase in ambulatory health care services.

Unemployment rates in education and health services remain relatively low compared to other industries. The June 2012 unemployment rate was 6.2%, which was actually up from the 5.8% unemployment rate in June 2011.

Only four other industries had lower unemployment rates last month: mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; financial activities; government workers; and self-employed workers, unincorporated and unpaid family workers. However, the education and health services industry was the only one where the unemployment rate climbed year over year.

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