One in Five Iowa Jobs Linked to Health Care, Study Shows
DES MOINES – Wayne County Hospital (WCH) generates 177 jobs that add $8,446,355 to Wayne County’s economy, according to the latest study by the Iowa Hospital Association. In addition, WCH employees by themselves spend $1,218,729 on retail sales and contribute $73,124 in state sales tax revenue.
“WCH plays a key role in contributing to the economic health of our community,” said Board Chair Gary Runyon, DVM. “We are fortunate to have this hospital and the highly qualified staff dedicated to doing such worthwhile work.”
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 74,027 people and create another 73,953 jobs outside the hospital sector. As anAs an income source, hospitals provide $3.65 billion in salaries and benefits and generate another $2.5 billion through other jobs that depend on hospitals.
IHA data show Iowa hospitals added 4,611 employees and more than $747 million to their payrolls (including benefits) between 2004 and 2008, the year for which the latest hospital data is available.
In all, Iowa’s health care sector, which includes employed clinicians, long-term care services and assisted living centers, pharmacies and other medical and health services, directly and indirectly provides 354,907 Iowa jobs, or more than one-fifth of the state’s total employment.
“Iowa enjoys the economic security that comes with having one of the finest health care systems in the nation,” said Kirk Norris, IHA president/CEO. “Iowa hospitals are at the foundation of Iowa’s economy and remain major employers and business partners in all parts of the state. Just as no one provides the services and community benefits found at our hospitals, there is also no substitute for the jobs hospitals provide and create.” (Posted 2/17/10)