COVID-19 Impact on Health Care Jobs: Recovery Insights for 2024 – A Look at Industry Growth

On June 5, 2025, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that health care jobs took a hit during the pandemic but bounced back by 2024.

Thuy Nguyen, Ph.D., from the University of Michigan, and her team analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics covering 2016 to 2024. They looked at how health care employment compared to other sectors during this time. By using past trends, they estimated what health care jobs would have looked like without the pandemic.

They found that health care employment dropped by nearly 7% from late 2019 to mid-2020. However, by the third quarter of 2024, health care jobs had nearly returned to expected levels, just 0.2% below predictions. In contrast, jobs outside of health care were still struggling, remaining about 2.9% below where they should have been.

The difference in recovery rates might stem from how health care is funded, often through insurance. This provides some stability, protecting health care jobs from broader economic shifts. “Health care employment grew again amid the pandemic, unlike many other sectors,” the authors noted.

This study highlights an important trend: while many industries faced ongoing challenges, health care showed resilience. As people continue to prioritize health post-pandemic, the demand for health services is likely to remain strong. The recovery might also reflect a growing recognition of the value of health care workers and the resources needed to support them.

For further reading, check out the full study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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