Healthcare employment decreased in February, falling by 28,000 jobs, according to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The bureau released the February jobs report March 6.
Here are four more takeaways:
1. Healthcare employment declined in February following a large gain in January (76,700).
2. Within healthcare, physician offices lost 37,400 jobs in February, largely reflecting strike activity, according to the bureau. Becker’s has reported on nearly a dozen healthcare strikes since the beginning of 2026 and nearly 40 in 2025 across hospitals, clinics and other care settings.
3. Hospitals added 11,600 jobs in February, while employment in nursing and residential care facilities jobs declined by 5,600.
4. Overall, healthcare had added an average of 36,000 jobs per month over the previous 12 months.
