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Mass. Jobless Rate Hits 6.9 Percent

Unemployment in Massachusetts jumped to 6.9 percent last month — that's up a full percentage point over the previous month.

Job losses last month totaled 16,800.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development's Robb Smith says employment in the professional, scientific and business services faced the largest decline.

"When we see significant job losses in production and financial service sectors we will see down the road job losses in the services that support them. And that's what we're seeing now with the professional, scientific, and business services job loss."

Massachusetts' jobless rate still remains below the national percentage, which was 7.2 percent in December.

This program aired on January 22, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.

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