Hospitals add 8,800 jobs in December

Employment at the nation's hospitals rose by 0.17% in December to a seasonally adjusted 5,297,100 people, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. That's 8,800 more people than in November and 102,000 more than a year ago. Without the seasonal adjustment, which removes the effect of fluctuations due to seasonal events, hospitals employed 5,311,400 people in December – 10,700 more than in November and 104,000 more than a year ago. The nation's overall unemployment rate was unchanged in December at 3.5%.