Massachusetts Adds 8,400 Jobs in June
The Massachusetts unemployment rate fell another one-tenth of a point to 4.4% in June, and employers added 8,400 jobs last month, according to preliminary data the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development released on Friday.
The labor office also adjusted its estimate of May jobs to a decrease of 4,100, down from the original reports of 2,900 jobs lost.
Health Care and Construction Lead Job Growth
According to data on the labor office’s website, there was job growth in June in private education and health care (up 5,900), construction (up 3,700), and professional and business services (up 2,300). Sectors with job losses last month were trade, transportation and utilities (down 1,600), other services (down 1,200), information (down 500); leisure and hospitality (down 300), and government (down 300).
The US jobless rate dropped to 4.2% last month, down from May’s 4.3%.
Massachusetts Outperforms Prior Month
Massachusetts has added more than 24,800 payroll jobs, including 21,700 private sector jobs, since September, the state said.
How Massachusetts Compared with the U.S.
Massachusetts’ labor force participation rate fell to 65.3% in June, down from the 65.4% reported in May, according to labor officials. Last month, the labor force fell by 6,000, including 500 fewer people employed and 5,500 fewer unemployed. Labor officials say retirement is driving declines in the labor force participation rate. The U.S. labor force participation rate was 61.5% in June, according to BLS data.
