Heath Care Still Largest U.S. Employer

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America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers

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Heath Care Still Largest U.S. Employer

Which industry had the highest employment and annual payroll in 2018?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns (CBP), the 907,426 businesses in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector topped all others with 20 million employees and over $1.0 trillion in annual payroll in 2018.

And the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects this sector will grow 14% from 2018 to 2028, due largely to an aging population with increased health care needs.

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Continue reading to learn more about:

  • Sectors that saw the highest increases in employment between 2017 and 2018
  • The largest increases in annual payroll
  • The fast-growing industries in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector
  • Nonemployer Statistics (NES) economic data for businesses with no paid employees

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