Terry Stefan, left, of Easthampton, logs into a computer with the help of Data Analyst Manager Tom Thacher at CareerPoint. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
Lewis Wolfson, of Chicopee, logs into a computer at CareerPoint as he looks for employment. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
Western Mass. loses jobs
By HOPE E. TREMBLAY
Staff writer
WESTFIELD – Although the unemployment rate in Massachusetts held steady at 6.9 percent in January, the Greater Springfield area actually saw a loss in jobs.
State Sen. Michael Knapik said it is the only region in the Commonwealth with a job loss for that time period.
The Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported last week a net gain of 6,600 jobs in January, with higher numbers in seven of the 10 largest employment sectors.
The 6.9 percent unemployment rate was unchanged from December, and compares with the 8.3 percent national jobless rate for January.
The department also announced Thursday that year-end revisions based on data from the U.S. Labor Department showed Massachusetts gained 12,200 jobs in 2011, well below earlier estimates that as many as 40,000 new jobs had been created.
Officials said, however, they expected the federal figures to be further revised when data gathered from the state’s own unemployment insurance system is added for the second half of 2011.
Knapik said the real data from 2011 is alarming.
“We have a quarter of a million people out of work and we only created about 12,000 new jobs last year,” said Knapik. “To have flat to negative growth, it’s just not good. We are the only region not creating jobs and that’s a huge concern.”
Knapik took Gov. Duval Patrick to task over the inflated unemployment figures.
“The numbers were just so wrong,” said Knapik.
Knapik said one way to improve the number of jobs in this part of the state is to make reforms that will help business owners, such as health insurance, worker’s compensation and unemployment.
“The House and Senate will debate jobs bills later this year,” he said. Knapik said programs that bring in big business, such as Gulfstream, are beneficial to the job rate.
“Programs like that are great, but they’re not going to help Main Street,” he said.
Knapik said much of the eastern part of the state is not feeling the same job struggle.
“I go to Boston a few times a week and the economy is doing fine,” Knapik said. In Framingham, TJX Corporation, owners of T.J. Maxx, Marshall’s and HomeGoods, is expanding. We don’t have that luxury.”
Knapik said he will work to make doing business and hiring better for local companies.
Republicans in the state Legislature have formally introduced a series of bills they say will create jobs and encourage economic growth in Massachusetts.
The jobs package includes proposals in the areas of business regulation, education, energy, health care and taxes.
In all, five bills were filed in the House on yesterday and 16 in the Senate. They could face difficult sledding as Republicans control only 33 of the 160 seats in the House and four of the 40 Senate seats.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo has promised that Democrats will unveil a jobs package of their own later this year.
Among the Republican proposals are calls to reform the unemployment insurance system and reduce energy costs for businesses and consumers.
Hope E. Tremblay can be reached at [email protected]
