The US healthcare sector is not feeling the negative effects of the global economic crisis as much as others, it has been suggested.

Figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics show that recruitment in the nation's hospitals was up by 0.19 percent in November.

This equates to 4,698,100 individuals currently working in hospital jobs in the country, reported Nurse.com.

From October, this marks an increase of 9,100 vacancies filled.

Compared to November 2007, 139,300 more hospital workers have been recruited, the bureau's statistics show.

Elsewhere, in Australia, healthcare workers were also offered some welcome news yesterday.

The government and the Australian Medical Association reached an agreement to provide funding for an extra 63,000 hospital beds and raise the wages of medical employees by four percent.