- The state’s total unemployment rate for March remained unchanged at 3.0 percent according to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. Since January the rate has fallen from 3.1 percent.
- From March 2018 to March 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that Massachusetts added 28,200 jobs. After adding 5,400 private sector jobs, the state netted 4,100 total new jobs.
- Education and Health Services added 2,000 jobs over the month. Over the year, this sector gained 12,000 jobs
- Manufacturing gained 1,700 jobs over the month; over the year, however, it has lost 600 jobs. Similarly, the Construction sector added 600 jobs but lost 500 jobs over the past year.
- Leisure and Hospitality lost 2,400 jobs in March. Over the years, the sector lost 2,300 jobs.
- Government lost 1,300 jobs in March. However, over the past 12 months this sector has gained 4,500 jobs.
- Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped five-tenths of a percentage point.
ANALYSIS
It is hard to argue that Massachusetts is not operating at full employment. “The Massachusetts economy continues to add jobs in key sectors like Professional, Business, and Scientific Services as well as Education and Health Services.” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta said. “Those job gains, along with the labor force gains and a consistently low unemployment rate, are signals of the continued strength of the Commonwealth's job market."
The Bay State’s Labor Force Participation (LFP) rate slid slightly to 67.9 percent. The national LFP rate currently is 63.0 percent. The state labor force increased by 100 workers; it now stands at 3.84 million.
At 3.0 percent, the state’s unemployment rate is eight-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.8 percent.
Local government has added on average 246 new jobs each month. Within the Leisure and Hospitality super sector Arts, Entertainment and Recreation has outstripped Accommodations and Food Service which has lost about 500 jobs per month. (See Table B).
Meanwhile, according to the latest regional summary from the BLS, Professional Services and Education and Health Services continue to drive employment growth. (See Table A.)
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| Table A: Regional Summary |
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| Table B: Average Monthly Job Growth by Sector in MA, Author's calculations |
