The first U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Hiring Situation of 2021 revealed modest job growth amid peak virus levels during the third wave of the pandemic. The gains came after a drop of 227,00 jobs in December, as the pandemic continues to restrain economic recovery. Payrolls remain 9.8 million short of pre-crisis levels. The unemployment rate continued to gradually decline, registering at 6.3% last month.
The January 2021 Report revealed job loss within the healthcare sector, noting a loss of 29,600 jobs specifically. Employment within hospitals declined slightly by 2,100, with the balance of the job losses occurring within nursing care facilities, home health care services and community care facilities for the elderly. Since February 2020, healthcare employment has dropped by 542,000.
