Day: November 18, 2019

BOSTON — The state’s October total unemployment rate remained at 2.9%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts added 10,300 jobs in October. Over the month, the private sector added 10,800 jobs as gains occurred in education and health services; professional, scientific, and business services; trade, transportation, and utilities; manufacturing; other services; leisure and hospitality; information; and construction. From October 2018 to October 2019, BLS estimates Massachusetts added 51,700 jobs. 

The October unemployment rate was seven-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.6% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Preliminary estimates indicate that the Massachusetts economy has added 45,400 jobs since the beginning of the year, with the bulk of the job gains having come from key economic areas like education and health services as well as professional, scientific, and business services,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta said. “The statewide unemployment rate has remained at or below 3% for nine consecutive months, and the 12-month average unemployment rate for black residents of the Commonwealth dropped below 4% for the first time since the recession.”

The labor force increased by 5,600 from 3,839,900 in September, as 5,800 more residents were employed and 200 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.

Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point.

The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — increased by one-tenth of a point over the month to 67.7%. Compared to October 2018, the labor-force participation rate is down two-tenths of a percentage point. 

The largest private-sector percentage job gains over the year were in education and health services; other services; information; and professional, scientific, and business services.

SPRINGFIELD — Dietz & Co. Architects Inc. announced the addition of Yvonne Cruz, RA to its staff as a senior project architect.

Cruz holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Pratt Institute, School of Architecture in Brooklyn, N.Y. and is a licensed architect in New York and Connecticut. She brings more than 20 years of experience to Dietz & Co., having worked for firms in New York City throughout her career. She has worked on an array of residential projects as well as many hotel and restaurant projects. She brings to the firm a commitment to high-quality design and a passion for mentoring junior staff members.

CHICOPEE — The Good Dog Spot, with locations in Chicopee and Northampton, is bringing its Spots Tots program to the Chicopee location. The program is designed to help puppies get ready for the daycare environment and the world around them. The Spots Tots program also provides socialization, exposure to new things, and careful handling during the dogs’ most impressionable developmental period.

This unique puppy-training program, which has been offered in the Northampton location, will now also be open in the Chicopee location on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“We are so excited to see our Spots Tots puppy program expand into our Chicopee facility and serve those in Chicopee and surrounding towns,” said Elizabeth Staples, owner of the Good Dog Spot. “It’s a great opportunity to help puppies socialize, play, and develop into well-mannered dogs. We’ve witnessed first-hand in Northampton the positive effects when a pup graduates from Spots Tots into our day-care program or returns for a routine grooming appointment. We even provide puppy parents with a daily report card to take home.”

CHICOPEE — For the second year in a row, Yankee Home is engaging customers in a pay-it-forward event to provide food for those in need this holiday season. For every non-perishable food item donated, Yankee Home will give customers 1% off the cost of their home-improvement service, up to 10%.

All food items will be donated to Rachel’s Table, a program of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts that works to eliminate hunger and reduce food waste in the community.

“Last year, we were able to help a lot of folks in need at Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry,” said Yankee Home President Ger Ronan. “We’re excited to do it again this year for Rachel’s Table, especially after we learned that they work with Lorraine’s and other organizations in the area. It’s a great opportunity for us provide our customers with an added incentive to join us in giving back to the community.”

Ronan came to the U.S. from Ireland in 1982 with $80 in his pocket. He worked a series of jobs and experienced a period of homelessness himself as he worked his way up the ladder toward owning his own business.

Through the end of December, Yankee Home will be accepting non-perishable food items Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at its 36 Justin Dr. headquarters in Chicopee. While the discount is capped at 10% of the total cost of the service, people are encouraged to donate as much as they can. The discount applies to installed, new work only. A Yankee Home specialist can provide complete details.