MA unemployment rate drops to 8.8 percent
Officials say the Massachusetts unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent last month as the state posted job gains for the seventh consecutive month.
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 unemployment rate, down from 9 percent in July, remains below the national average of 9.6 percent.
