Pennsylvania’s hospitals contributed $128.9 billion toward the economy through wages and salaries and supported more than 650,000 jobs during fiscal year 2017, according to The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP).
Of the $128.9 billion, $17.2 billion was for the direct wages, and salaries of hospital clinical and administrative staff and $15.3 billion was for workers associated with the day-to-day function of hospitals.
Hospitals supported more than 289,000 direct positions and more than 361,000 indirect jobs with payroll totaling $32.5 billion.
“Hospitals are working to better coordinate care, invest in and focus on efforts to help patients get and stay healthy—and stay out of hospitals altogether.” Andy Carter, HAP president and CEO, said. “We are making great strides to improve patient safety, to build new technologies, to re-tool our workforce, and to address social issues, such as food insecurity and violence. In order for this important work to continue, hospitals need financial stability, relief from regulatory burden, and reliable payments for services.”
HAP’s report also found hospitals are a top employer in 53 of the state’s 67 counties. Nineteen of these counties are considered urban, and 48 are rural.
Healthcare is 12 percent of the state’s economy, making it a larger employer than retail and manufacturing.