The job market is in a 'deep freeze.' One industry is keeping it from sliding backward.
Business Insider
February 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The U.S. job market is experiencing a "deep freeze," with slow hiring and low quits creating a sluggish environment. Despite this, the healthcare and social assistance sector stands out as a key driver of growth, accounting for all net job creation in 2025. This industry has grown by 18% since January 2019, compared to just 4% growth across all other nonfarm payrolls. Without this sector's contributions, the U.S. would have lost around half a million jobs last year.
The importance of healthcare in sustaining job growth is highlighted by experts like Daniel Zhao from Glassdoor and Christian Gomez from ADP, who emphasize that healthcare will likely remain critical as the population ages and demand for services increases. While opportunities for doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are abundant, there are also openings in non-clinical roles such as tech, caregiving, human resources, and finance.
Laura Ullrich of Indeed notes that transitioning into healthcare can be challenging, especially for those from unrelated fields, but the sector's broad needs mean there are pathways for various skill sets. For job seekers, the stability and growth potential of healthcare make it a resilient option in an uncertain market.
The broader economic implications are significant. As other industries struggle with hiring and retention, healthcare's steady growth helps maintain overall employment levels. This reliance on one sector raises questions about long-term sustainability and whether healthcare can continue to drive growth as demand evolves.
For businesses, understanding the dynamics of this key industry is crucial for strategies related to workforce planning, talent acquisition, and economic forecasting. The resilience of healthcare and its ability to adapt to changing needs will likely shape the job market's future in the coming years.
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Originally published on Business Insider on 2/26/2026