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Mass. Added 4,800 Jobs Last Month; Its Unemployment Rate Is Now 3.7 Percent

The unemployment rate in Massachusetts tumbled to 3.7 percent in October as employers added an estimated 4,800 jobs last month, state officials reported Thursday.

The unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in September.

At 3.7 percent, it's up half a percentage point from October 2016, although state officials say employers have added 69,000 jobs over the year.

"The low unemployment rate and job gains are indicators of the ongoing strength of the economy in Massachusetts," said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta said in a statement. "But not all communities and regions are feeling the benefits of this economy equally. Our workforce development programs continue to prioritize closing skills gaps and connecting all citizens of the Commonwealth to prosperous career pathways."

The size of the state's labor force — the number of residents working or actively seeking work — is growing, despite a decrease last month. The labor force was up 70,700 people from an estimated 3,585,400 in October 2016, with 51,200 more residents employed and 19,600 more residents unemployed.

The unemployment rate is based on a survey of households, and the jobs numbers estimate is based on a survey of employers, and both are subject to revision.

With additional reporting by the WBUR Newsroom

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