Unemployment Rate Drops To 6.5% In Mass.
BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts economy showed more signs of recovery last month as the unemployment rate dropped to 6.5 percent and the state added 8,700 jobs.
The unemployment rate dropped in March from the 6.9 percent rate reported in February.
The national unemployment rate for March was 8.2 percent.
The state Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday that including March's numbers, Massachusetts has added nearly 30,000 jobs this year.
The biggest gain came in the professional, scientific and business services sector, which added about 4,900 jobs. The trade transportation and utilities, and the education and health service sectors also added jobs.
The construction, leisure and hospitality, and government sectors lost jobs.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
