Hospitals add 12,400 jobs in December

Employment at the nation's hospitals rose by 0.24% in December to a seasonally adjusted 5,152,800 people, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. That's 12,400 more people than in November and 75,800 more than a year ago. Without the seasonal adjustment, which removes the effect of fluctuations due to seasonal events, hospitals employed 5,166,900 people in December – 17,300 more than in November and 79,600 more than a year ago. The nation's overall unemployment rate was unchanged in December at 4.1%.