Mass. Unemployment Rate Falls To 8.8 Percent

The Patrick administration is applauding the latest job numbers. New data from the state Labor Department shows the unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent in August, down from 9 percent in July.

Labor Secretary Joanne Goldstein says the state is headed in the right direction.

"That is hard to be the person who is unemployed when you're hearing this good news, but we would suggest that this could provide hope to people because the economy is recovering," Goldstein said. "More jobs will become available and we urge everyone to continue looking and to not give up."

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development on Thursday announced an increase of 2,100 jobs in August — most in the leisure and hospitality area, but also in construction and scientific and business services sectors.

The state agency said the Massachusetts economy has added 64,300 jobs since December.

Private sector jobs increased by 4,000, but government jobs were down by 1,900 due in large part to cuts in the number of temporary federal Census workers.

The state is faring better than the national unemployment rate, which stands at 9.6 percent.