BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported Thursday that the preliminary July job estimates show an increase of 12,700 jobs, for a total of 3,246,800 jobs in Massachusetts. The private sector gained 11,600 jobs. The July total unemployment rate remained at 7.6 percent, well below the national rate of 9.1 percent.
Six of the 10 private sectors added jobs in July with the largest over the month gains in Education and Health Services; Other Services; Trade, Transportation and Utilities; Manufacturing; Professional and Business Services; and Financial Activities. The July job gain follows a revised 9,400 job gain in June, previously reported as a 10,400 job gain.
Over-the-year (July 2010 to July 2011), jobs are up 56,800, for a growth rate of 1.8 percent. Private sector jobs are up 61,900, a growth rate of 2.2 percent, with gains in nine of the 10 sectors. Year-to-date, (December 2010 to July 2011), 53,000 jobs have been added in the Bay State with 58,200 jobs in the private sector.
The biggest gains were in education and health services (3,000 for a .4 percent gain). Over-the-year, this sector has added 17,300 (up 2.6 percent) jobs with health care and social assistance gaining 15,000 (up 3 percent) and educational services 2,300 (1.4 percent). Also up were other services, primarly seasonal help, which is occurring later in the season and at higher levels.
Trade, transportation, and utilities gained 2,900 jobs, manufacturing gained 2,400 jobs. Construction, however, lost 1,500 jobs (down 1.4 percent) following a 1,900 job gain in June. This sector had posted job gains in each of the previous four months. Over-the-year, this sector has added 2,100 (2 percent) jobs with gains in all component industries.
The July estimates show 3,208,700 Massachusetts residents were employed and 263,400 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,472,100. Since October 2009, there are 40,300 more residents employed and 41,000 fewer residents unemployed as the labor force decreased by 700.
Local area unemployment statistics for July 2011 will be released on Tuesday, Aug. 23.
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