BOSTON – The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary estimates show that Massachusetts added 300 jobs in July and the total unemployment rate increased to 7.2 percent.
The private sector added 2,500 jobs in July as Leisure and Hospitality; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; Information; Financial Activities; and Professional, Scientific, and Business Services all added jobs. Since December 2012, Massachusetts has gained 15,900 jobs. Over the year, Massachusetts added 40,100 jobs, 38,500 of which were in the private sector.
Over the year, the unemployment rate was up 0.4 of a percentage point from the July 2012 rate of 6.8 percent. Revised BLS estimates show a 2,100 jobs loss in June (preliminary BLS estimates showed 2,800 jobs were added in June).
July 2013 Employment Overview
Leisure and Hospitality added 1,700 (+0.5%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Leisure and Hospitality added 3,600 jobs (+1.1%).
Trade, Transportation and Utilities gained 1,500 (+0.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 4,200 (+0.8%) jobs.
Information added 800 (+0.9%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Information gained 1,500 (+1.7%) jobs.
Financial Activities added 500 (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Financial Activities gained 200 (+0.1%) jobs.
Professional, Scientific and Business Services gained 100 (0.0%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Professional, Scientific and Business Services added 11,600 (+2.4%) jobs.
Construction jobs were unchanged over the month. Over the year, Construction has added 4,600 (+4.0%) jobs.
Education and Health Services shed 1,100 (-0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Education and Health Services gained 13,200 (+1.9%) jobs.
Other Services lost 600 (-0.5%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Other Services added 3,100 (+2.5%) jobs.
Manufacturing lost 400 jobs (-0.2%) over the month. Over the year, Manufacturing lost 3,500 (-1.4%) jobs.
Government lost 2,200 (-0.5%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Government gained 1,600 (+0.4%) jobs.
Labor Force Overview
The July 2013 estimates show 3,240,700 Massachusetts residents were employed and 250,300 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,491,000. The July labor force increased by 7,100 from 3,483,900 in June 2013, as 500 fewer residents were employed and 7,600 more residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force was an estimated 20,100 above the 3,470,900 July 2012 estimate, with 5,100 more residents employed and 15,000 more residents unemployed.
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.
