BOSTON - November 19, 2009 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported today that the unemployment rate in Massachusetts dropped from 9.3 percent in September to 8.9 percent in October, the first monthly rate decline since June of 2007. Jobs are down 900 for the month of October. The Professional, Scientific and Business Services; Education and Health Services; Government and Construction sectors added jobs in October, while Manufacturing; Trade, Transportation and Utilities; Information; Financial Activities and Other Services recorded job losses. The October national unemployment rate was 10.2 percent compared to 9.8 percent in September. The September job loss for Massachusetts which was originally reported at 9,200 was revised upwards to 9,300. At 3,175,400, jobs are down 101,500 or 3.1 percent from one year ago.

Employment Overview

Professional, Scientific and Business Services added 4,100 jobs in October with gains in all three components. Administrative, Support and Waste Management Services grew by 2,200 jobs, its sixth consecutive monthly increase in jobs, due to growth in Employment Services which includes Temporary Help. Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, which has added jobs in three of the last four months, added 1,400 jobs in October. Management of Companies also added jobs. With employment at 464,500, Professional, Scientific and Business Services jobs are down 21,900 or 4.5 percent from one year ago.

Education and Health Services jobs were up 1,500 jobs in October due to gains in Health Care and Social Assistance. Educational Services jobs were unchanged. Since July, Education and Health Services has added 2,300 jobs. At 654,000, the Education and Health Services sector has added 9,400 jobs over the year.

Government gained 200 jobs over the month. The Federal Government's 1,000 job gain was mostly due to the hiring of Census workers. State Government's 700 job loss combined with 100 jobs lost in Local Government offset most of the gains at the Federal level. Over the year, Government jobs are down 9,900 jobs with 4,000 jobs lost in State Government, a 5,300 job decline in Local Government jobs and a 600 loss in Federal Government jobs.

Construction gained 100 jobs in October, this sector's first monthly gain since February. At 108,400, Construction employment is down 22,100 or a 16.9 percent rate of job loss over the year.

Leisure and Hospitality jobs were unchanged in October as a 500 job gain in Arts, Entertainment and Recreation was offset by a 500 job loss in Accommodation and Food Services. At 301,800, jobs are down 2,300 over the year with most of the loss in Arts, Entertainment and Recreation.

Manufacturing jobs declined by 2,300 in October with losses in both Durable Goods and Non-Durable Goods. With employment at 265,600, Manufacturing jobs are down 17,600 or 6.2 percent from one year ago.

Trade, Transportation and Utilities lost 1,700 jobs in October with losses in all three components. Transportation, Warehouse and Utilities jobs were down 900, Retail Trade was down 700 jobs and Wholesale Trade was down 100 jobs. With employment at 542,400, this sector is down 22,100 or 3.9 percent from one year ago with the largest losses in Retail Trade.

Information shed 1,000 jobs after gaining 600 jobs in September. At 85,500, Information employment is down 2,400 or 2.7 percent from one year ago with losses in Publishing and Telecommunications.

Financial Activities lost 900 jobs in October. Most of the job loss was in Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, Finance and Insurance also recorded a small job loss. At 205,800, the Financial Activities sector is down 11,000 jobs or 5.1 percent from one year ago.

Other Services lost 900 jobs in October after adding 1,600 jobs over the previous two months. With employment at 117,600, jobs are down 1,400 or -1.2 percent from one year ago.

Labor Force Overview

The labor force grew by 1,500 in October with 12,800 more Massachusetts residents employed and 11,300 fewer residents unemployed. In October, 3,136,100 residents were employed and 307,900 residents were unemployed. At 3,444,000, the labor force was up 16,500 from October 2008 with 93,100 fewer residents employed and 109,500 more residents unemployed.

The unemployment rate is based on a monthly sample of households, while the job estimates are derived from a monthly sample survey of employers. As a result, the two statistics may exhibit different trends.

-From the Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development