After strong growth in recent years, the Massachusetts economy has slowed noticeably in 2013. The state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the unemployment rate in Massachusetts has risen to 7.2 percent, the highest level in nearly two years. July is the third consecutive month to see the rate rise. State officials also revised jobs figures for June, correcting a previous estimation that 2,800 jobs were added to the economy to show a loss of 2,100 jobs instead.

Nationally, the unemployment rate is improving: the US unemployment rate decreased from 7.6 percent in June to 7.4 percent in July.