The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Friday said jobs in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) declined by 3,900 in December of last year when compared to the prior month of November 2025. But experts tracking the data said the dip is mainly based on seasonal factors and does not alter the broader trend for more workers coming into the sector.

Year-to-year, SNFs employed some 45,000 more people last month when compared to December 2024 at 1.56 million workers vs. 1.515 million workers, respectively.

All numbers are seasonally adjusted.

Darlene Rencher, director of recruiting and talent acquisition for Healthcare Services Group, Inc., said the calendar definitely plays a role in hirings for the SNF universe.

“There is a seasonality that happens in the fourth quarter because of holidays and that results in a slowdown in hiring. You have hiring managers on vacation and other groups looking to reset budgets and hold off on hiring until January when we typically see a bump in jobs filled,” she said.

HSCG is a leader in the long-term care space in providing housekeeping, dining, and nutritional services for residents across the care spectrum. The group tracks employment trends closely, especially for job openings and applications in SNFs, as it acquires talents for its many provider clients.  

Patrick J. Orr, executive vice president and chief revenue officer for HCSG, focused on the broader trend for the skilled nursing sector, which has seen a slow and building recovery in the number of jobs since the pandemic ended.

“In looking at 2025, it was a challenging year for the U.S. economy in terms of hiring, but a positive year for long-term care,” he noted.

Echoing that sentiment, Dee Huard, senior vice president of human resources, HCSG, said the company seems to be filling positions faster than in previous years. “There are more candidates available than previously and that helps move things [hiring process] along faster. There has definitely been a change in our ability to fill positions for the positive,” she said.

Overall, there was a mixed result with employers adding 50,000 jobs in December, and the national unemployment rate falling to 4.4 percent from 4.6 percent in November. But over the course of last year, total job gains in 2025 were the weakest since 2020, BLS said.

Comments or questions? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.