Health Care Remains Up in Otherwise Weak Jobs Report

Health care employment rose by in March to 14,516,600 people, making it one of the few bright spots in the Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly jobs report. For hospitals, employment rose by 0.16% to a seasonally adjusted 4,837,600 people. Physician office employment also was up, rising to 2,423,700 people. However, health care leaders have warned that the 2% reduction in Medicare reimbursement that went into effect on April 1 and further cuts to government entitlement programs could slow hiring in the future.A joint study funded by the The American Hospital Association (AHA), the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) found that up to 766,000 health care and related jobs could be lost by 2021 as a result of the 2% sequester of Medicare spending mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011.