Press Release: 2019-11-18

Massachusetts Unemployment and Job Estimates for October 2019

Massachusetts Unemployment and Job Estimates for October 2019


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


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. The one loss occurred in Financial Activities. Government lost jobs over the month.


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 percent 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. The statewide unemployment rate has remained at or below three percent for nine consecutive months and the twelve-month average unemployment rate for Black residents of the Commonwealth dropped below four percent for the first time since the recession,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta said.


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 percent over the month to 67.7 percent. 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.


October 2019 Employment Overview


Education and Health Services added 5,900 (+0.7%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Education and Health Services gained 24,200 (+3.0%) jobs. 


Professional, Scientific and Business Services added 2,400 (+0.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Professional, Scientific, and Business Services gained 11,900 (+2.0%) jobs.


Trade, Transportation and Utilities added 1,100 (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Trade, Transportation and Utilities gained 4,000 (+0.7%) jobs.


Manufacturing added 600 (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Manufacturing lost 300 (-0.1%) jobs.


Other Services added 600 (+0.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Other Services are up 3,500 (+2.5%) jobs.


Leisure and Hospitality added 500 (+0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Leisure and Hospitality gained 2,100 (+0.6%) jobs.


Information added 300 (+0.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Information gained 1,900 (+2.1%) jobs.


Construction gained 100 (+0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Construction has lost 400 (-0.3%) jobs.


Financial Activities lost 700 (-0.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Financial Activities added 2,600 (+1.2%) jobs.


Government lost 500 (-0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Government gained 2,200 (+0.5%) jobs.


Labor Force Overview


The October estimates show 3,734,200 Massachusetts residents were employed and 111,300 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,845,500. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 2.9 percent. The October labor force increased by 5,600 as 5,800 more residents were employed and 200 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force participation rate, the share of working age population employed and unemployed, increased by one-tenth of a percent to 67.7 percent. The labor force was up 11,800 from the 3,833,700 October 2018 estimate, with 20,200 more residents employed and 8,400 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 October 2019 will be released on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. The preliminary November 2019 and revised October 2019 unemployment rate, labor force and job estimates for Massachusetts will be released on Friday, December 20, 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.