Massachusetts’ December unemployment report contained some positive signs: the state’s unemployment rated dropped to 5.5 percent, from 5.8 percent in November, and nearly 11,000 jobs were added to the state’s economy.
The Office of Labor and Workforce Development also reported that the state netted more than 60,000 new jobs over the past 12 months, making 2014 the strongest year for job growth since 2000.
While the general unemployment rate may remains relatively high, for professionals and those with a college degree, the unemployment rate is closer to three percent. Employers have increased demand for qualified candidates in certain sectors, including Financial Services, Human Resources, IT and some entry-level positions.
PSG’s President Aaron Green recently shared his thoughts with Boston.com about what makes some industries and jobs ‘hot.’
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Massachusetts’ monthly unemployment rate ticked up in September, from 5.8 percent to 6 percent, and is now higher than the national average unemployment rate of 5.9 percent. However, experts attribute the rise to more than 15,000 workers entering the job market and say that, combined with the addition of 9,400 jobs, is a good sign for the Massachusetts economy.
Other positive signs for the local job market:
The unemployment rate in Massachusetts rose to 5.8 percent in August, up from 5.6 percent in July. The state lost 5,300 jobs in August, according to a report from the state Office of Labor and Workforce Development that specified “temporary employment disruptions in the retail sector” contributing to the loss of 9,800 jobs in the retail sector.
The U.S. unemployment rate is 6.1 percent.
Massachusetts’ unemployment rate rose slightly – from 5.5 percent, its lowest rate in almost six years, to 5.6 percent in July, according to the state’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. Massachusetts also added 13,800 jobs to the economy last month.
In July, the professional, scientific and business services, as well as education and health services sectors, added the most jobs. A net of 67,300 jobs have been added to the Massachusetts economy over the past year.
The national unemployment rate is currently 6.2 percent.
Massachusetts’ unemployment rate for June dropped to its lowest rate in nearly six years – to 5.5 percent – and the state added 3,700 jobs in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent report.
Compared to figures from one year ago, Massachusetts’ total unemployment rate is down 1.6 percent and the state has added a net total of 48,900 jobs, 48,400 in the private sector and 500 jobs in the public sector.
The biggest jobs producers were in the education and health services sectors, which added a combined 6,000 positions in June. Retailers added 1,800 jobs, while local government grew by 900 positions. Manufacturing jobs lost 1,100 in June.
The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent in June.
A U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report indicates that Massachusetts’ unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent in May, down from 6 percent in April, and the lowest monthly rate in six years. More than 9,000 jobs were added to the Massachusetts economy in May.
The last time the state’s unemployment rate was below 6 percent was in July 2008. The current national unemployment rate is 6.3 percent.
Massachusetts’ unemployment rate fell to 6 percent in April, down from 6.3 percent in March, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, while Massachusetts added more than 9,000 jobs in March, the state lost 1,600 jobs in April.
One explanation for the lower unemployment rate and fewer jobs is that people who become discouraged and stop looking for jobs are no longer counted as part of the workforce.
In its latest monthly unemployment update, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said that preliminary estimates show that Massachusetts added 8,100 jobs in March and the state’s unemployment dropped from 6.5 percent to 6.3 percent.
Massachusetts’ unemployment rate had been as high as 7.1 percent in recent months, making it higher than the national average unemployment rate for the first time in six years. Currently the national unemployment rate is 6.7 percent.
In addition to the estimated increase of 8,100 jobs in March, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised its February estimates to show a net gain of 5,500 jobs in February, up from the previous estimate of 3,800 jobs. State officials say Massachusetts has seen a net gain of 50,400 jobs in the past 12 months.
The biggest job gains were in the Education and Health Services sector, which added 5,700 jobs in March.
According to the latest report from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Massachusetts gained 3,800 jobs in February and the state’s unemployment rate fell to 6.5 percent, from 6.8 percent the month prior. The latest report also revised the number of jobs lost in January from 4,500 to 3,900.
Massachusetts’ unemployment rate has been slowly trending downward since reaching its recent highest level of 7.2 percent in August. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 6.7 percent.
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