Massachusetts’ Gains 8,400 Jobs in June as Unemployment Rate Drops Again

BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) released Massachusetts unemployment and job estimates for June, with preliminary data indicating that payroll jobs increased by 8,400 for the month, following a revised decrease of 4,100 jobs in May. Massachusetts has added more than 24,800 payroll jobs, including 21,700 private-sector jobs, since September.

Preliminary data also shows the June unemployment rate dropped to 4.4%, 0.2% higher than the national rate, and the labor force participation rate decreased slightly to 65.3%, 3.8% higher than the national rate.

Bureau of Labor Statistics categories with the strongest growth month-over-month for Massachusetts employment in June includes private education and health services, construction, professional and business services, and manufacturing.

“In June, Massachusetts saw the unemployment rate drop again and continues to see strong payroll job growth, with average monthly job growth outpacing the U.S. over the past year,” said Mark Rembert, chief economist in EOLWD’s Department of Economic Research. “That job growth has been broad-based across industries, including healthcare and social assistance, education, construction, manufacturing, and professional and business services.”