Massachusetts Jobs Down 5,300 in August

BOSTON — According to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show Massachusetts lost 5,300 jobs in August.

Job losses were impacted by temporary employment disruptions in the retail-trade sector. Jobs are estimated at 3,415,200. The August total unemployment rate was up 0.2% to 5.8% from the July rate. The rate is 0.3% below the 6.1% national unemployment rate.

Since August 2013, Massachusetts has added a net of 54,300 jobs, with 53,500 jobs added in the private sector. The total unemployment rate for the year is down 1.4% from the August 2013 rate of 7.2%. BLS also revised its July job estimates to a 12,200-job gain from the 13,800-job gain previously reported for the month.