Mass. unemployment steady in Oct. as state adds 11,000 jobs
Posted on November 19, 2015
November 19, 2015By Jack Newsham - Globe Correspondent
Mass. unemployment steady in Oct. as state adds 11,000 jobs
The Massachusetts unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.6 percent last month, while employers added 11,000 jobs, according to the state labor department.
The state unemployment rate is lower than the national unemployment rate of 5 percent. Job numbers for the year also received a boost because the Executive Office of Workforce and Labor Development revised its September estimate to reflect 2,200 jobs lost, significantly fewer than the original estimate of 7,100.
“Massachusetts continues to add jobs, and the labor market is strong,” Ronald Walker II, the state labor secretary, said in a statement. “We frequently hear from employers that they have jobs to fill, which is a good position for the state to be in.”
Hiring was especially strong in the education and health services fields, which added 5,200 jobs last month, according to state figures. Professional, scientific, and business services added 3,000 jobs in October, and most other employers also added workers. The trade, transportation, and utilities workforce, which includes retail employees, cut 500 jobs.
The unemployment rate is based on a survey of households, while the number of jobs added is based on a survey of businesses.
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