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Mass. Adds 1,200 Jobs In October; Unemployment Rate Stays At 6 Percent

The Massachusetts economy added an estimated 1,200 jobs in October, and the state unemployment rate remained at 6 percent, figures out Thursday show.

The Massachusetts jobless rate is above the national level, which is currently 5.8 percent.

The state unemployment rate has risen from 5.5 percent in June, though it's been accompanied by a rise in the labor force. In October 2013, the rate was 7.2 percent.

Five of Massachusetts' job sectors added jobs last month, led by the information sector with 1,900 positions, construction with 1,300 and government with 1,200.

Four sectors lost jobs, including trade, transportation and utilities with 1,800 and leisure and hospitality with 1,500.

Thursday's employment report also revised down the positions added in September, from an initially estimated 9,400 to 7,800.

"It's good news," state Labor Secretary Rachel Kaprielian said of the recent employment trend, in an interview with WBUR's Newscast Unit. "It is slow and steady job growth year to date, but we're not seeing the same level of gains that we saw earlier in the year."

The previous two jobs reports, for August and September, were significantly affected by temporary disruptions at the Market Basket grocery chain. August's showed big job losses, which then bounced back in September. October reflected a return to relative normalcy.

The state labor force also grew in October, by 14,100. Because the unemployment level is a ratio, it is impacted by the number of people either working or actively seeking work.

The jobs figures and the unemployment rate are based on separate surveys — one of employers, the other of households — and both are subject to revision.

This article was originally published on November 20, 2014.

Headshot of Benjamin Swasey

Benjamin Swasey Digital Manager
Ben is WBUR's digital news manager.

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