Healthcare employment edges up, though tepid overall

The healthcare industry hired another 15,700 employees in May, bringing the total of new jobs added over the past 12 months to 391,000.The gains were largely thanks to the ambulatory sector, which added 12,200 jobs last month and accounted for 78% of total healthcare job growth. Physician offices alone added 7,900 jobs and other outpatient healthcare practices added 2,700. Medical and diagnostic labs added 1,100 jobs and dental offices added 800.Nonetheless, employment growth is tepid at best. The month of May had 42% fewer hires than in April, and almost 70% fewer than in March, according to the newest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.