Home Health ​Jobs Rise amidst‌ Overall Employment Slowdown

⁤ ​ ⁤ updated⁢ June 7, 2025

The ⁣home health sector saw an increase of 12,300 jobs from April to May, according to new data from the U.S. ⁣Bureau of Labor Statistics. ⁣This growth occurred even as overall employment gains fell short of expectations.

Figures released ‍Friday⁤ show 1.797​ million seasonally adjusted home health employees on payrolls in May, up from 1.785 million‌ the previous month. The⁢ department​ noted‍ that a shift in a ​New York state program‌ led to worker reclassifications, impacting April’s health care job numbers.

The Labor Department explained that⁣ changes in New York’s ⁣program caused workers ⁤previously classified under home⁤ health care to be included in the individual and family ⁣services component of social ⁢assistance. this shift influenced⁤ employment‍ declines in health‌ care and gains in social assistance for April.

The New York State Department of Health ⁤transitioned its self-directed home care program to a single fiscal intermediary, ‍public Partnerships LLC (PPL). Caregivers paid through the program⁤ were required to re-register with PPL by April ⁢1, a deadline that ‌has been⁣ extended multiple times.PPL reports having issued⁢ payments ​to 210,000 personal assistants.

In May 2025, ‌home health jobs totaled 1.791 million, ‌up from 1.734 million‍ in May 2024. Demand for home health services remains strong,‍ with projections estimating that the industry will need ‍to fill 5 million jobs by⁣ 2040.

The unemployment rate⁤ remained steady at 4.2%. Overall employment figures for ⁣March and April were revised downward by a combined 95,000 jobs. According ‍to Reuters, job growth has slowed due to uncertainty surrounding tariffs.

What’s next

The home health industry will⁣ likely continue to see job growth as the demand for services increases. Monitoring policy changes and economic ‍factors will ⁣be crucial for understanding future employment trends in the sector.