Mass. Added 9,000 Jobs In September
BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts unemployment rate stood at 7.2 percent in October, up slightly from the previous month, while the state added more than 9,000 jobs, according to the state Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
The agency on Friday released two months of jobs data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report for September had not been previously released because of delays caused by the partial federal government shutdown in October.
The September unemployment rate in Massachusetts was 7.1 percent, down from 7.2 percent in August. It rose back to 7.2 percent in October.
During the past 12 months, the state's jobless rate has climbed one-half point from 6.7 percent in October 2012.
During the same period, however, the state has added 52,100 private sector jobs, according to Friday's report.
Revised estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the state gained 6,000 jobs in August and 9,400 jobs in September, along with the preliminary estimate of 9,100 jobs gained in October.
Among the sectors of the state's economy that picked up jobs last month were leisure and hospitality; trade, transportation and utilities; education and health services; and construction.
Losses were reported in the manufacturing sector and in government.
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