Hospital wage inflation is slowing, with hourly wage growth averaging 3% in 2024, compared to 4.2% in 2023, according to a Sept. 9 Fitch Ratings report.
Hospital wage inflation peaked in late 2021, growing more than 8%. During 2021 and 2022, the year-over-year wage growth for nonprofit hospital employees outpaced the private sector and healthcare outside the hospital.
However, payrolls continue to rise for hospitals and ambulatory healthcare services with a 6.7% and 12.6% increase, respectively, above February 2020 numbers.
The decrease has helped some hospitals struggling to meet the demand for care, but staff shortages still abound.