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Health Jobs Hit U.S. Record, Driven by Economy and Obamacare

  • Outpatient care and home-health services fueled the increase
  • The U.S. is getting grayer, and more people have insurance
An examination in Los Angeles, California.

An examination in Los Angeles, California.

Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg

Health-care jobs hit a record as a percentage of total non-farm employment in the most recent U.S. payrolls report, fueled by an improving economy and President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul.

Health jobs made up 10.7 percent of all jobs in August. That’s 15.2 million people employed in doctors’ offices, hospitals and home care on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Labor Department said Friday, up from 14.7 million a year earlier.