Economy

The unemployment rate in Massachusetts ticked down 0.2 percentage points to 6.5% in April, continuing the steady decline from the high rates since the state of the coronavirus pandemic.

Everyone who participates in this mid-year economic survey will be entered into a drawing for one of four $50 gift cards to a local restaurant.

The unemployment rate in the city of Worcester dropped a full percentage point from February to March, hitting its lowest level since the coronavirus pandemic began.

As the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission continues to study how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the state's health care system, one major area it is exploring is the impacts on the workforce.

Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester on Wednesday said it will start permanently replacing the members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association union, in a sign the 66-day fight over staffing ratios is reaching a long-term impasse.

Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester and the union Massachusetts Nurses Association appear to be closer to ending the nurses strike ongoing since March 8, after the hospital agreed to modify contract language around staffing levels.

The Massachusetts economy grew at a much faster pace than the national economy in the first quarter and the economic analysts at MassBenchmarks see that trend continuing over the coming months.

The Worcester area added 12,100 jobs in March, reversing two straight months of declines as the region climbs out of the worst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Saint Vincent Hospital met with union nurses on Monday for the first time in more than eight weeks, but the gathering didn't bring the two sides any closer to an agreement to end a strike ongoing since March 8.

If the coronavirus pandemic was supposed to send people fleeing high-priced dense cities in favor of more affordable options where people can work remotely, the Worcester area has not been a major beneficiary.