Mixed Jobs Picture for Healthcare Sector

June 5, 2020

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today released the May jobs report, showing that healthcare employment increased by 312,000 over the month, with gains in offices of dentists (+245,000), offices of other health practitioners (+73,000) and offices of physicians (+51,000). But job losses continued in nursing and residential care facilities (-37,000) and hospitals (-27,000).

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 2.5 million in May, and the unemployment rate declined to 13.3%. The report says the improvements in the labor market reflected a limited resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed in March and April due to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to contain it. In May, employment rose sharply in leisure and hospitality, construction, education and health services, and retail trade. By contrast, employment in government continued to decline sharply.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates declined in May for adult men (11.6%), adult women (13.9%), Whites (12.4%)and Hispanics (17.6%). The jobless rates for teenagers (29.9%), Blacks (16.8%) and Asians (15.0%) showed little change over the month.