The health care industry is the biggest employer in the state, based on total payroll expenditures, according to a report released today by the Louisiana Hospital Association. There were 11,179 healthcare businesses in the state during 2006, with nearly 253,000 employees and an $8.3 billion payroll. Hospitals accounted for the largest share of workers and salaries. In metro Baton Rouge, more than 43,000 people worked in the healthcare industry in 2006, earning $1.35 billion. The nearly 16,500 hospital workers earned almost $565 million. Hospitals are feeling pain from the current recession. The LHA says 43% of hospitals had negative earnings last year. Half reported a drop in elective surgeries and 56% reported an increase in emergency room visits from uninsured patients. That led to a drop in operating margins, from 2.06% in 2007, to 1.2% in 2008. See the full report here.
Report says health care biggest employer in state
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