Healthcare employment picture brightened in first quarter

The healthcare labor market improved considerably in the first quarter of 2011 in a number of major cities, according to statistics compiled by the Health Workforce Solutions' Labor Market Pulse Index.

Eighteen of the 30 markets charted by the LMPI showed improvement. Additionally, the composite index showed a 4 percent improvement between the first quarter of this year and the fourth quarter of 2010. There had been significant declines in the index the prior two quarters, including a 13 percent drop in strength between the third and fourth quarters of last year.

Hiring demand was strongest in the Baltimore, Miami and Charlotte markets, with an average gain of 31 percent. The Las Vegas, San Diego and Cleveland markets were at the bottom, with an average loss of 14 percent.

"While not out of the woods yet, we are bullish on the outlook for the rest of the year. Seeing movement in markets that have been stagnant for much of the last year is very encouraging," David Cherner, a Health Workforce Solutions managing partner, said according to Healthcare Finance News.

The LMPI survey will soon be expanded into 60 markets nationwide, Cherner added.

For more information:
- here's the LMPI data
- read this Healthcare Finance News article

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