U.S. healthcare job growth averaged under 22,000 jobs per month in the first five months of this year, compared to 32,000 per month in 2015 and 2016, according to an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Altarum's Center for Sustainable Health Spending report.
Altarum found the slowdown affected hospital as well as ambulatory healthcare services. In early 2017, hospitals added 5,500 jobs per month, compared to 10,000 in 2016. Ambulatory providers added 14,000 jobs per month this year, compared to 20,000 in 2016.
"The leveling off in expanded coverage combined with the uncertain future of recent coverage gains are the likely contributors to the slowdown in health job growth in 2017," Charles Roehrig, MD, founding director of Altarum's Center for Sustainable Health Spending, said.
Although healthcare employment has slowed, the industry still holds an all-time high share of total U.S. employment at 10.75 percent.