Home health care services added 6,400 jobs in March, continuing an overall upward trend. Employment in the industry surpassed February 2020 levels for the first time. The hospital employed 5,100 staff, the highest level since December 2020. The Office of Other Health Practitioners added 2,200 jobs last month after hiring 12,500 in February.

Several health care industry layoffs last month offset February’s gains.

Nursing and inpatient mental health facilities shrank the most, losing 2,500 and 3,000 jobs respectively in March. The residential mental health sector, while showing modest growth in 2020, has been declining since early 2021. Nursing facilities haven’t changed much since September.

Dentists and doctors’ offices each lost more than 1,000 jobs after a steady upward trend over the past two years.

Medical and diagnostic labs lost 900 jobs in March, the most since July 2020, after job gains last month.