Hospital payroll on the rise

Hospital and health system payroll continued to steadily rise in August, according to Fitch Ratings, which expects more of the same in September.

Advertisement

Last month, the average hospital payrolls rose for the 32nd month in a row; ambulatory healthcare services also reported payroll increases for the 43rd consecutive month.

Here are three other key data points from the report:

1. Hospital payroll was up 6.7% since February 2020 in August, reflecting the steep payroll increases through the pandemic. Ambulatory health services reported a 12.6% payroll jump in the same timeframe.

2. Hospitals have averaged adding around 18,650 jobs per month in the last 12 months, reflecting the transition away from contract labor and more emphasis on internal hiring and growth.

3. The average hourly earnings for hospital employees declined in 2024 so far, to around 3% growth year over year.

“In addition to cooling wage inflation, hospital payrolls are showing post-pandemic growth that exceeds payroll growth in the overall private sector, though the growth has not eliminated clinical labor shortages,” Fitch states in the report. “Hospitals are still dealing with post-pandemic pent-up service demand, especially from seniors, that has kept labor needs high.”

Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit

Advertisement

Next Up in Financial Management

Advertisement

Comments are closed.