US health care payrolls rise 17,000 in September, below average
by@Kalshi
Summary
In September 2026, US health care payrolls increased by 17,000, a figure significantly below the 33,000 monthly average seen over the past year. While employment in the health care sector continued to rise, the slower growth highlighted the ongoing challenges in the broader labor market, where overall hiring weakened. Notably, job gains were primarily found in ambulatory health care services and hospitals, even as nursing and residential care facilities experienced losses.
Analysis
US health care: US health care is a broad sector encompassing ambulatory health care services, hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, and related providers. It remained the leading source of US payroll growth in September, with employment increasing in ambulatory services and hospitals while nursing and residential care facilities declined. Subsectors: September gains were concentrated in ambulatory health care services and hospitals, while nursing and residential care facilities recorded job losses. Labor market: Health care accounted for most of the limited overall US payroll growth in September, underscoring the sector's continuing importance as broader hiring weakened. Employment trend: Health care employment continued to rise in September, but its gain was roughly half the sector's average monthly increase over the previous year.
Categories
macropolitics
Related sources
- https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
- https://www.reuters.com/business/us-job-growth-slows-sharply-september-unemployment-rate-rises-42-2026-10-02/
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