6,600 New Jobs in MA

Friday, March 09, 2012

GoLocalWorcester Business Team

Preliminary January estimates show that Massachusetts added 6,600 jobs over the month, for a total of 3,218,400 jobs. The total unemployment rate was 6.9%, unchanged from the revised December, 2011 numbers and well below the national rate of 8.3%. And the good news continues as it was the lowest monthly rate since December 2008.

According to the State numbers, the private sector added 7,900 jobs. And, seven of the ten private sectors were up month over month - the largest of which occurred in Professional, Scientific, and Business Services and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities.

Over the year (January 2011 to January 2012), the Bay State added 12,200 jobs while the private sector added 15,900 jobs during that period.

Employment Overview Sector by Sector

Professional, Scientific, and Business Services added 3,500 (+0.7%) jobs over the month, the sector’s seventh monthly gain. All three of the components added jobs within the sector. Over the year, Professional, Scientific, and Business Services added 11,200 (+2.4%) jobs; this gain is due mostly to growth in Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, which added 8,300 (+3.3%) jobs.

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 1,800 (+0.3%) jobs over the month with gains in Retail Trade and Transportation. Over the year, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 7,200 (+1.3%) jobs: Retail Trade added 4,900 (+1.4%) jobs; Transportation added 2,000 (+2.4%) jobs; and Wholesale Trade added 300 (+0.2%) jobs.

Leisure and Hospitality added 1,700 (+0.6%) jobs over the month due to gains in both components. Over the year, Leisure and Hospitality lost 1,200 (-0.4%) jobs.

Construction added 1,000 (+0.9%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Construction lost 1,800 (-1.7%) jobs.

Other Services added 1,000 (+0.8%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Other Services added 4,700 (+3.9%) jobs.

Information added 700 (+0.9%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Information lost 1,400 (-1.7%) jobs.

Financial Activities added 300 (+0.1%) jobs over the month due to the gain in Real Estate and Rental and Leasing. Over the year, Financial Activities lost 1,700 (-0.8%) jobs: Finance and Insurance lost 1,800 (-1.1%) jobs, but Real Estate, Rental and Leasing added 100 (+0.3%) jobs.

Education and Health Services lost 1,600 (-0.2%) jobs over the month; both components recorded losses. Health Care and Social Assistance lost 1,100 (-0.2%) jobs and Educational Services lost 500 (-0.3%) jobs. Over the year, Education and Health Services lost 3,000 (-0.4%) jobs.

Manufacturing lost 400 (-0.2%) jobs over the month due to the loss in Non-Durable Goods. Over the year, Manufacturing added 2,100 (+0.8%) jobs.

Mining and Logging lost 100 (-9.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Mining and Logging lost 200 (-16.7%) jobs.

Government lost 1,300 (-0.3%) jobs over the month. Local Government added 1,000 (+0.4%) jobs, but State Government lost 1,300 jobs (-1.1%) and Federal Government lost 1,000 (-2.1%) jobs. Over the year, Government lost 3,700 (-0.9%) jobs; losses occurred at all three levels. State Government in particular lost 2,300 jobs over the year.