Mass. Unemployment Rate Down To 6.8 Percent
The Massachusetts unemployment rate fell to 6.8 percent in December, although the state economy lost 6,200 jobs, according to the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
The unemployment rate was down 0.2 percentage points from its November rate of 7 percent, and well below the national rate of 8.5 percent.
The loss of jobs, which is calculated based on a sample of employers, came largely from the professional, scientific and business services sector, which lost 5,000 jobs over the month. Education and health services, lost 2,400 jobs while the leisure and hospitality sector also lost 1,200 jobs.
These losses were somewhat offset by job growth in the manufacturing and trade, transportation and utilities sectors.
The state also revised its November jobs estimate downward, reporting that the state gained 300 jobs over that month rather than the 5,000 it had previously reported.
The unemployment rate and jobs numbers are in conflict because they are based on different surveys. The household survey, which is used in calculating unemployment numbers, found that 6,100 more people were employed in December than in November. It also found that the total labor force, which includes anyone working or looking for work, increased by 1,300.
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