The healthcare industry added 21,500 jobs in October, with hospitals contributing 2,800 to that total, according to Friday's jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This is not far from the industry's average monthly gain of 24,000 jobs so far in 2017, according to the BLS. However, it is about 10,000 less than the industry's average monthly gain of 32,000 in 2016.
Ambulatory healthcare services showed the biggest employment growth in the industry last month, adding 16,100 jobs. Hospitals added 2,800 jobs last month, down from the 4,500 jobs they added in September.
Overall, U.S. employment rose by 261,000 in October, according to the BLS.