Mass. Unemployment Rate Lowest Since Feburary '09
BOSTON (CBS/AP) -- The Massachusetts unemployment rate is continuing to fall.
In May the rate dropped to 7.6 percent, down from 7.8 percent in April and well below the national unemployment rate of 9.1 percent.
That represents about 265,600 unemployed people and the lowest unemployment rate the state has seen since February 2009.
But it's not all good news.
The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development said Thursday the state lost 4,000 jobs in May. That includes jobs in government; leisure and hospitality; transportation; financial services; and mining and logging.
Education, health services, construction, and other industries gained jobs.
This follows a 20,300 job gain in April.
There are just over 3.2 million jobs now in the state. Public sector jobs are up 0.9 percent, and private sector jobs up 1.6 percent over a year ago.
Jobs by Sector:
- Professional, Scientific and Business Services: Gained 2,300 jobs (+0.5 percent)
- Construction: Gained 1,000 jobs (+0.9 percent)
- Manufacturing: Gained 900 jobs (+0.4 percent)
- Education and Health Services: Gained 800 jobs (+0.1 percent)
- Other Services: Gained 600 jobs (+0.5 percent)
- Information: Gained 100 jobs (+0.1 percent)
- Leisure and Hospitality: Lost 3,300 jobs (-1.0 percent)
- Trade, Transportation and Utilities: Lost 2,400 jobs (-0.4 percent)
- Financial Activities: Lost 1,300 jobs (-0.6 percent)
- Mining and Logging: Lost 100 jobs (-8.3 percent)
- Government: Lost 2,600 jobs (-0.6 percent)
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