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Mass. Adds 10,500 Jobs In March; Unemployment Rate Down To 4.8 Percent

Massachusetts added an estimated 10,500 jobs last month, and its unemployment rate ticked down 0.1 percentage points, to 4.8 percent, the state labor department reported on Thursday.

March's strong job growth for Massachusetts occurred in a month in which national jobs figures fell short of expectations.

Two sectors powered the state job growth, as the education and health services sector added an estimated 5,500 jobs in March, and the leisure and hospitality sector gained 4,900.

The construction sector fared worst, with 2,100 jobs lost over the month.

The Massachusetts labor force grew 16,200 over the month, a positive sign for the state economy, and the labor participation rate ticked up 0.3 percentage points, to 66.2 percent. According to the labor department, the March rate is the highest participation rate since June 2010.

"For us that's important because that shows the residents of the commonwealth are actively participating in the economy," state Labor Secretary Ron Walker told our Newscast Unit.

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

This article was originally published on April 16, 2015.

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