Assumption College

Following its best year since the Great Recession, the Worcester economy dipped slightly in the first quarter of 2017, as unemployment rose, according to the Worcester Economic Index from Assumption College.

Central Massachusetts professionals joined and were promoted at firms like Becker College, Abby's House, UniBank, Commerce Bank and Webster Five Cents Savings Bank.

Sullivan Insurance Group, Jericho Road and The Bridge of Central Massachusetts have all made recent hires or promotions.

The local, national and global economies will likely see accelerated growth in 2017, assuming they work through the uncertainties created by shifting federal policies, according to an economist speaking at an event in Worcester.

The Worcester economy had its strongest year since the Great Recession, finishing out with 2.1-percent growth in the fourth quarter, according to Assumption College's Worcester Economic Index.

Assumption College has been named to a list of the top 30 best values in digital marketing certificates from online college guide Value Colleges.

Worcester's economy grew in the third quarter of 2016 at a 3.5 percent annualized rate, but is expected to cool off slightly in the coming quarters, according to the quarterly Worcester Economic Index (WEI).

Massachusetts law enforcement and college officials gathered Wednesday to talk about sexual assaults and terrorist threats, two areas of focus that have commanded attention in the past decade.

The latest U.S. News and World Report college ranking is out, with Worcester's schools having a strong showing overall and climbing in key rankings of more than 1,800 schools throughout the nation.

Worcester's schools have topped the Princeton Review's 2017 list, taking top honors in categories including most accessible professors, tree-hugging vegetarians, best career services, and most politically apathetic students.