Although the economy has taken a turn for the worse, the State of Massachusetts has been able to add more Boston jobs this year.
In August, the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy area had a total non-farm employment of 2,491,500 people, an increase of .6 percent from July. The city saw an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent in August, the same as in July, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.
When compared to last year, the City of Boston has added jobs every month this year. Jobs have increased by 1 percent in March, by .9 percent in April, by .8 percent in May, by .8 percent in June, by .7 percent in July and by .6 percent in August.
Not only Boston, but the entire State of Massachusetts seems to be flourishing. An article by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development notes the state had an unemployment rate of 5.1 percent in August, down from 5.2 percent in July.
“The statewide seasonally adjusted August 2008 unemployment rate edged up in August to 5.3 percent from the revised 5.0 percent rate in July,” the article notes. “Job estimates show Massachusetts added jobs in August and continues to gain jobs over the year, contrasting with the national economy which has shed jobs during this time.
“Estimates show that seven sectors posted job gains over the month in August, with the largest gain in leisure and hospitality, along with gains in professional, scientific and business services as well as in education and health services, manufacturing and construction,” the article continues.
Unemployment rates remained unchanged in eight areas over the month, while just three others recorded rate increases. The largest over-the-month unemployment rate decline was in Amherst, and was mostly due to seasonal reopening of schools, universities and colleges. The Farmington area increased by 1,800 jobs, or 1.1 percent, the second-largest gain.
The Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton and Peabody areas also all added jobs. The remaining labor market areas lost jobs from last year.
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