Healthcare employment surged by 901,000 under current administration while other sectors saw net job losses amid slow growth.
The healthcare and social services sector added 901,000 jobs since the current administration took office, while all other sectors combined experienced net job losses. This divergence highlights healthcare as the sole expanding industry in a slow-growth environment.
Total nonfarm payrolls reached 159,001 thousand in May 2026, with unemployment holding steady at 4.3%. Economists note the trend may reflect weak overall job creation due to sluggish population growth, rather than exceptional sector strength.
Insurers like UnitedHealth Group (UNH) and Humana (HUM) have outperformed, rising 26% and 42% year-to-date, respectively, driven by aging-population demand.