Press Release: LWD: Massachusetts U-Rate for June 2019: 3.0%, Payrolls +9,800

Massachusetts Unemployment and Job Estimates for June

(BOSTON, MA -JULY 19, 2019) - The state's June total unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.0 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts added 9,800 jobs in June. Over the month, the private sector added 8,400 jobs as gains occurred in Education and Health Services; Leisure and Hospitality; Financial Activities; Manufacturing; Information and Trade, Transportation and Utilities. Government added jobs over the month. From June 2018 to June 2019, BLS estimates Massachusetts added 35,500 jobs. The June unemployment rate was seven-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.7 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "BLS estimates there are now 3,682,400 jobs in the Commonwealth, which is 287,100 jobs above the previous Massachusetts cumulative job count high from February of 2001,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta said. “Job gains both over the month and over the year continue to be led by the Education and Health services sector which has added 21,500 jobs and grown by 2.7 percent over the last year.” The labor force decreased by 2,100 from 3,840,900 in May, as 1,700 fewer residents were employed and 500 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. Over the year, the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped four-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 - dropped one-tenth of a percentage point at 67.7 percent over the month. Compared to June 2018, the labor force participation rate is unchanged. The largest private sector percentage job gains over the year were in Education and Health Services; Information; Leisure and Hospitality; and Other Services. June 2019 Employment Overview Education and Health Services added 5,100 (+0.6%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Education and Health Services gained 21,500 (+2.7%) jobs. Leisure and Hospitality gained 3,100 (+0.8%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Leisure and Hospitality added 5,700 (+1.5) jobs. Financial Activities gained 1,300 (+0.6%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Financial Activities added 1,300 (+0.6%) jobs. Manufacturing gained 300 (+0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Manufacturing lost 1,600 (-0.7%) jobs. Information added 200 (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Information gained 1,700 (+1.9%) jobs. Trade, Transportation and Utilities added 100 (0.0%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Trade, Transportation and Utilities lost 800 (-0.1%) jobs. Construction lost 900 (-0.6%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Construction has lost 3,400 (-2.1%) jobs. Professional, Scientific and Business Services lost 400 (-0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Professional, Scientific and Business Services gained 4,900 (+0.8%) jobs. Other Services lost 400 (-0.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Other Services are up 2,000 (+1.4%) jobs. Government added 1,400 (+0.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Government gained 4,200 (+0.9%) jobs. Labor Force Overview The June estimates show 3,725,300 Massachusetts residents were employed and 113,500 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,838,800. The unemployment rate remained at 3.0 percent. The June labor force decreased by 2,100 as 1,700 fewer residents were employed and 500 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force participation rate, the share of working age population employed and unemployed, dropped one-tenth of a percentage point at 67.7 percent. The labor force was up 30,900 from the 3,807,900 June 2018 estimate, with 47,500 more residents employed and 16,600 fewer residents unemployed. The unemployment rate is based on a monthly sample of households. The job estimates are derived from a monthly sample survey of employers. As a result, the two statistics may exhibit different monthly trends. NOTES: The labor force is the sum of the numbers of employed residents and those unemployed, that is residents not working but actively seeking work in the last four weeks. Estimates may not add up to the total labor force due to rounding. Local area unemployment statistics for June 2019 will be released on Tuesday, July 23, 2019. The preliminary July 2019 and revised June 2019 unemployment rate, labor force and job estimates for Massachusetts will be released on Friday, August 16, 2019. See the 2019 Media Advisory annual schedule for a complete list of release dates. Detailed labor market information is available at www.mass.gov/lmi. Source: Charles Pearce  617-626-7121 Charles.Pearce@massmail.state.ma.us Follow us on Twitter @MassLWD