Massachusetts Adds 7,100 Jobs in August, Unemployment Remains at 2.9%

Massachusetts Adds 7,100 Jobs in August, Unemployment Remains at 2.9%

Massachusetts added 7,100 jobs in the month of August, while unemployment remained at 2.9%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced on Friday.

“Massachusetts continues to experience strong job growth with an unemployment rate which has been at or below 3 percent for seven consecutive months. Job gains have been concentrated in key economic areas like Education and Health Services, which added 12,600 over the year and Professional, Scientific, and Business Services, which has added 8,900 jobs during that time frame,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta.

MA Adds Jobs

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over the month the private sector added 6,700 jobs as gains occurred in Professional, Scientific and Business Services; Construction; Information; Financial Activities; and Other Services. Manufacturing jobs level remained unchanged over the month.

Government added 400 jobs over the month.

The state's labor force participation rate remained at 67.6 percent.

Compared to August of 2018, the labor force participation rate is down two-tenths of a percentage point. 

From August 2018 to August 2019, BLS estimates Massachusetts added 43,600 jobs. 

Unemployment Remains

Massachusetts unemployment remained at 2.9% in the month of August.

The August rate was eight-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.7 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The labor force increased by 3,300 from 3,834,100 in July, as 3,800 more residents were employed and 500 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.