State Adds 13,800 Jobs in July; Unemployment Rate at 5.6%

BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported that preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show Massachusetts added 13,800 jobs in July for a total of 3,422,100 jobs, and the total unemployment rate edged up 0.1% to 5.6% from the June rate. The rate is still the lowest since August 2008 and is below the 6.2% national unemployment rate.

Since July 2013, Massachusetts has added a net of 67,300 jobs, with 66,400 jobs added in the private sector. The total unemployment rate for the year is down 1.6% from the July 2013 rate of 7.2%. BLS also revised its June job estimates to a 2,500-job gain from the 3,700 previously reported for the month. Here is the July employment overview:

• Professional, scientific, and business services added 5,000 jobs (+1.0%) over the month. Over the year, professional, scientific, and business services added 13,300 (+2.6%) jobs.

• Education and health services gained 3,800 jobs (+0.5%) over the month. Over the year, education and health services gained 24,000 (+3.3%) jobs.

• Construction added 1,900 jobs (+1.5%) over the month. Over the year, the sector has added 2,400 (+2.0%) jobs.

• Trade, transportation, and utilities added 1,900 jobs (+0.3%) over the month. Over the year, trade, transportation, and utilities gained 12,800 (+2.3%) jobs.

• Financial activities gained 1,000 jobs (+0.5%) over the month. Over the year, the sector added 2,500 (+1.2%) jobs.

• Other services added 800 jobs (+0.6%) over the month. Over the year, jobs are up 3,300 (+2.7%) in this sector.

• Leisure and hospitality gained 600 jobs (+0.2%) over the month. Over the year, the sector added 4,300 (+1.3%) jobs.

• Manufacturing added 500 jobs (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, manufacturing lost 600 (-0.2%) jobs.