BOSTON – The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary November 2012 estimates show Massachusetts lost 1,100 jobs over the month, for a total of 3,258,000 jobs. The November job loss follows a revised gain of 11,900 jobs in October.
The total unemployment rate for November was unchanged at 6.6 percent. The unemployment rate was down 0.4 of a percentage point from the November 2011 rate of 7.0 percent. The three-month average seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate was 6.6 percent and the six-month average was 6.4 percent.
Over the year, November 2011 to November 2012, jobs are up 46,600. Private sector jobs are also up 46,600 with gains in seven of the ten sectors. Professional, Scientific, and Business Services and Trade, Transportation and Utilities had the largest gains.
Employment Overview
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 5,500 (+1.0%) jobs. Over the year, 12,300 (+2.2%) jobs were added with most of the growth in Retail Trade which gained 7,500 (+2.2%) jobs.
Education and Health Services gained 1,100 (+0.2%) jobs in November. Educational Services added 200 (+0.1%) jobs and Health Care and Social Assistance added 900 (+0.2%) jobs. Over the year, Education and Health Services gained 3,000 (+0.4%) jobs.
Other Services added 600 (+0.5%) jobs. Over the year, the sector gained 200 (+0.2%) jobs.
Information gained 500 (+0.6%) jobs over the month. Over the year, the sector added 3,900 (+4.7%) jobs.
Mining and Logging employment remained unchanged both over the month and over the year.
Leisure and Hospitality lost 4,000 (-1.3%) jobs over the month due to the losses in Accommodation and Food Services and Arts, Entertainment and Recreation. Over the year, Leisure and Hospitality has gained 4,100 (+1.3%) jobs due to gains in Accommodation and Food Services.
Manufacturing lost 2,600 (-1.0%) jobs over the month with losses in both components. Over the year Manufacturing has shed 600 (-0.2%) jobs.
Professional, Scientific, and Business Services lost 1,200 (-0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, the sector has added 24,200 (+5.1%) jobs with Professional, Scientific and Technical Services component generating 17,900 (+6.9%) jobs.
Construction lost 500 (-0.5%) jobs over the month. Over the year, jobs are down 2,200 (-2.1%).
Financial Activities lost 400 (-0.2%) jobs with losses in both components. Over the year, the sector has gained 1,700 (+0.8%) jobs.
Government lost 100 (0.0%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Government employment remained unchanged.
Labor Force Overview
The November 2012 estimates show 3,243,500 Massachusetts residents were employed and 230,200 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,473,700. The labor force was 18,000 above last year’s level, with 29,400 more residents employed and 11,300 fewer residents unemployed. Since the unemployment rate peaked at 8.7 percent in October 2009, there are 83,000 more residents employed and 70,800 fewer residents unemployed. Totals may not sum exactly due to rounding.
The unemployment rate is based on a monthly sample of households. The job estimates are derived from a monthly sample survey of employers. As a result, the two statistics may exhibit different monthly trends..
