The Labor Department reported that 531,000 jobs were created in October, a sign that economic activity is picking up in the early fourth quarter. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.6% from 4.8%. Despite record-breaking numbers of job openings, millions of Americans remain unemployed and outside of the labor force.

This Halloween HealthTrust's Employee Advisory Group hosted a contest for the best Halloween costumes. While everyone looked very festive, our team voted on their top picks!  Take a look at our contest winners and all of our team members in costume!

First Place - Day of the Dead - Blanca Torres, LMS Administrator (Credentialing)

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that job growth dropped to the slowest pace seen this year, adding just 194,000 new jobs in September and marking the second consecutive month of decline. The unemployment rate dropped to an 18-month low of 4.8%, partially offset by those leaving the labor force. August payrolls were revised to show a revised job gain of 366,000, up from the originally reported 235,000. Overall employment remains 5.0 million jobs below the pre-pandemic peak in February 2020.

Brooke Johns, an emergency room nurse at Southern Hills Hospital in Las Vegas, Nev., spends her days off brushing and braiding patients' hair. She started these acts of kindness to help patients who weren't able to have visitors due to the pandemic. She hopes to set the example for her three kids to give back. "Service is so important," said Brooke. "If they see mom doing it they are much more likely to do it too."

It’s hard to imagine but today marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people — more than 400 were police officers, firefighters and first responders. September 11, 2001 — 9/11— stands as the deadliest foreign attack in the United States.

Many of us can remember exactly where we were when that first plane hit the twin towers. Some of us have very personal memories of family or friends impacted by the attacks. One thing that stands out for me is how our communities across the country came together in a display of profound patriotism. We faced uncertainty and stood in the face of adversity, and ultimately came out more resilient. The same could be said for how we’ve pulled together these past 18 months in the ongoing fight against COVID-19, which as we know, continues.

The COVID-19 Delta variant likely tampered with job growth last month, according to the August 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Hiring Situation. In August 235,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy, the fewest jobs in seven months and less than half of the average monthly job growth of 586,000 that has been seen this year. The unemployment rate dropped to a 17-month low of 5.2%, down from 5.6%, a 16-month low. Employment is up by 17 million since April 2020 but down by 5.3 million, or 3.5%, from its pre-pandemic level in February 2020.

While the healthcare sector overall lost 4,900 jobs in August, hospitals marked the second consecutive month of job growth, adding 3,200 jobs. Job losses occurred in nursing and residential care facilities (-6,900) and in ambulatory care settings (-1,200). Ambulatory care has typically been the largest job-producing segment within healthcare’s economic rebound. Overall, 513,400 healthcare jobs have been lost since the start of the pandemic in February 2020, with nursing homes accounting for the majority of job loss (-383,200). Hospitals lost 84,800 jobs and ambulatory care settings lost 45,300 jobs during the same time period.

We are excited for school to begin once again. In honor of the start of the new school year, please see below pictures that were shared by our team members across the country of their children's first day back at school. Check out their smiling faces below!

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year when visitation at hospitals was restricted, the caring staff Presbyterian Saint Luke's Hospital (PSL), which is based in Denver, Colorado, sought to find an incredible way to honor the patients, who had passed away, especially those who did not have family by their side. "We knew that we did not want anyone to die alone," said Laura-Anne Cleveland, an associate chief nursing officer at PSL. "That is always our commitment, but more so when they [patients] couldn’t have visitors at their bedside." So, to help colleagues find peace after a patient passes away, medical staff now gathers in a circle to read a special message created by an unknown ER nurse.

Click here to view the surprise.

The economy began the second half of the year with strong momentum, with the July 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Hiring Situation reporting that 943,000 new jobs were created last month. The gains were the largest seen in nearly a year and the unemployment rate ticked down to 5.6%, a 16-month low.

Healthcare added 36,800 jobs in July. Job gains in ambulatory health care services (31,900) and hospitals (18,300) than offset a loss of 13,400 jobs in nursing and residential care facilities. Healthcare employment remains down by 502,000 since February 2020.