MASSACHUSETTS ADDS 8,100 JOBS IN MARCH

MASSACHUSETTS ADDS 8,100 JOBS IN MARCH
Unemployment Rate Drops to 6.3 Percent


BOSTON, MA – April 17, 2014 – The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary estimates show that Massachusetts added 8,100 jobs in March and that the total unemployment rate dropped another 0.2 of a percentage point to 6.3 percent from the February rate.

Over the month, jobs are up 8,100 with private sector jobs up 7,800.  Since March 2013, Massachusetts added a net of 50,400 jobs: with 53,900 jobs added in the private sector and 3,500 lost in the public sector. The total unemployment rate was down 0.6 of a percentage point from the March 2013 rate of 6.9 percent rate.
BLS also revised its February estimates upward to 5,500 jobs, up from the 3,800 jobs previously reported for the month.


March 2014 Employment Overview

Education and Health Services gained 5,700 (+0.8%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Education and Health Services gained 14,800 (+2.0%) jobs.

Trade, Transportation and Utilities added 3,100 (+0.6%) jobs over the month.  Over the year, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 9,900 (+1.8%) jobs.

Other Services gained 1,700 (+1.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Other Services jobs are up 4,300 (+3.5%) jobs.

Information added 600 (+0.7%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Information gained 5,000 (+5.8%) jobs.
Leisure and Hospitality gained 200 (+0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Leisure and Hospitality added 4,500 jobs (+1.4%).

Professional, Scientific and Business Services lost 2,100 (-0.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Professional, Scientific and Business Services added 14,500 (+2.9%) jobs.

Construction lost 900 (-0.7%) jobs over the month.  Over the year, Construction has added 2,300 (+1.9%) jobs.

Manufacturing lost 300 (-0.1%) jobs over the month.  Over the year, Manufacturing lost 800 (-0.3%) jobs.

Financial Activities lost 200 (-0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Financial Activities lost 600 (-0.3%) jobs.

Government added 300 (+0.1%) jobs over the month.  Over the year, Government lost 3,500 jobs (-0.8%).

Labor Force Overview

The March 2014 estimates show 3,285,800 Massachusetts residents were employed and 220,900 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,506,800. The March labor force increased by 12,100 from 3,494,700 in February, as 19,200 more residents were employed and 7,200 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force was an estimated 24,500 above the 3,482,300 March 2013 estimate, with 44,300 more residents employed and 19,900 fewer 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.