Healthcare hiring rose in April, employment report shows

Healthcare recruitment accelerated in April despite ongoing staffing challenges, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Friday.

Employers in the sector added about 34,300 jobs last month, up from 23,300 in March. preliminary data show. The healthcare industry contributed to the employment of 428,000 people in the economy in April.

The unemployment rate remained stable at 3.6%, with 5.9 million unemployed in April. The unemployment rate has been below 4% for three consecutive months, signaling a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2020, a month before the start of the pandemic, 3.5% of workers were unemployed.

An estimated 1.7 million people reported being unable to work last month due to pandemic-related business closures or losses, up from 2.5 million in March.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics revised its data for February and March. Medical companies hired 15,000 more people in March than previously reported, according to the agency. Overall, the economy added 39,000 fewer jobs in February and March than the BLS originally estimated.