In all, Iowa’s Health Care Sector Provides 312,821 Jobs Across State
DES MOINES March 11, 2016: Wayne County Hospital and Clinic System (WCHCS) generates 248 jobs that add $15,806,111 to Wayne County’s economy, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association. In addition, WCHCS employees by themselves spend $2,052,368 on retail sales and contribute $123,142 in state sales tax revenue.
“Every year we receive these numbers from the Iowa Hospital Association and I am always taken by the important role our hospital and clinic system plays in the economic viability of our region. Our mission of providing healthcare services and ensuring access to care for our community is supported by the continual growing need in our area. Not only do we provide employment for a large sector of the population, we also provide essential healthcare services locally, which we are continually honored to do,” commented CEO, Daren Relph.
The IHA study examined the jobs, income, retail sales and sales tax produced by hospitals and the rest of the state’s health care sector. The study was compiled from hospital-submitted data on the American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey of Hospitals and with software that other industries have used to determine their economic impact.
The study found that Iowa hospitals directly employ 71,348 people and create another 44,935 jobs outside the hospital sector. As an income source, hospitals provide $4.3 billion in salaries and benefits and generate another $1.8 billion through other jobs that depend on hospitals.
In all, the Iowa health care sector, which includes offices of physicians, dentists and other health practitioners, nursing home and residential care, other medical and health services and pharmacies, contributes $15.5 billion to Iowa’s economy while directly and indirectly providing 312,821 jobs, or about one-fifth of the state’s total non-farm employment.
“With more than 300,000 jobs, health care is one of Iowa’s largest employers, and hospitals are by far the biggest contributor to that number,” said Kirk Norris, IHA president/CEO. “That impact carries through to local communities, where hospitals are often among the largest employers in Iowa cities and counties.”
The Iowa Hospital Association is a voluntary membership organization representing hospital and health system interests to business, government and consumer audiences. All of Iowa’s 118 community hospitals are IHA members.