According to a June 7 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of healthcare jobs increased by 68,000 in May, including gains in home health care (+20,000), nursing and residential care facilities (+11,000), and hospitals (+15,000).  The growth in healthcare jobs is in line with the average monthly gain of 64,000 over the prior 12 months. In aggregate, the U.S. added 272,000 non-farm jobs in May.  The nation’s unemployment rate ticked up to 4.0 percent.  The Bureau’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover report for April 2024, in turn, confirms that aggregate demand for labor continues to exceed supply, with data showing a ratio of 0.8 unemployed persons per job opening – i.e., there are approximately 1.2 jobs for every one individual seeking employment.