BOSTON – The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) today reported that the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary estimates show that Massachusetts added 9,100 jobs in October and the total unemployment rate was 7.2 percent. Over the year, the unemployment rate was up 0.5 of a percentage point from the October 2012 rate of 6.7 percent.
The private sector added 9,300 jobs in October as Leisure and Hospitality; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; Education and Health Services; Construction; Financial Activities; Professional, Scientific, and Business Services; and Information all added jobs. Since December 2012, Massachusetts has gained 39,800 jobs. Over the year, Massachusetts added 52,100 jobs, all of which were in the private sector.
Due to a lapse in funding as a result of the federal government shutdown in October, the revised August and preliminary September jobs and unemployment rate publication and release dates were revised. EOLWD today also reported the revised August and revised September jobs, labor force and unemployment rates along with the preliminary October estimates for Massachusetts.
Revised BLS estimates show 9,400 jobs were added in September, of which 7,800 were in the private sector. The September unemployment rate was 7.1 percent, down 0.1 of a percentage point over the month. Revised August estimates show a gain of 6,000 jobs over the month with the private sector adding 5,100 of the jobs. The revised August unemployment rate was unchanged from the prior month at 7.2 percent.
October 2013 Employment Overview
Leisure and Hospitality added 3,200 (+1.0%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Leisure and Hospitality added 4,200 jobs (+1.3%).
Trade, Transportation and Utilities gained 2,500 (+0.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 11,400 (+2.1%) jobs.
Education and Health Services added 1,900 (+0.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Education and Health Services gained 17,300 (+2.5%) jobs.
Construction gained 1,300 (+1.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Construction has added 6,300 (+5.5%) jobs.
Financial Activities added 600 (+0.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Financial Activities lost 200 (-0.1%) jobs.
Professional, Scientific and Business Services gained 600 (+0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Professional, Scientific and Business Services added 8,900 (+1.8%) jobs.
Information added 300 (+0.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Information gained 6,700 (+7.7%) jobs.
Other Services gained 300 (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Other Services added 1,800 (+1.5%) jobs.
Manufacturing lost 1,400 jobs (-0.6%) over the month. Over the year, Manufacturing lost 4,300 (-1.7%) jobs.
Government lost 200 (0.0%) jobs over the month. Government jobs were unchanged over the year.
Labor Force Overview
The October 2013 estimates show 3,237,700 Massachusetts residents were employed and 249,800 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,487,600. The October labor force decreased by 6,500 from 3,494,100 in September 2013, as 7,300 fewer residents were employed and 700 more residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force was an estimated 10,500 above the 3,477,100 October 2012 estimate, with 5,200 fewer residents employed and 15,600 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.
