September 10, 2010
Ø Please note that the Commonwealth’s new jobs figures for August, 2010, will be released on September 16, 2010
Ø All state data can be verified with The US Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov/
Ø All press releases on the Commonwealth’s jobs & unemployment are available at http://www.mass.gov/eolwd
Ø Since January of 2010 Massachusetts has added 60,200 jobs. July is the 6th consecutive month of job gain this year.
general information
Ø The important and consistent trend we can take away from this month’s unemployment and jobs data is that job growth is consistently showing a gaining trend and the supply/demand gap is narrowing.
Ø In July, the private sector gained 19,200 jobs as all nine sectors added jobs. This is the largest monthly job gain in the private sector in twenty years. This marks the sixth straight month of job gains in the Commonwealth. http://lmi2.detma.org/lmi/Newsrelease/NewsLMI20100819.htm
Ø 60,200 jobs have been created since December, representing 36% of the 166,700 jobs lost during the recent recessionary period (March 2008 – December 2009)
Ø The July unemployment rate held at 9.0% and remains well below the national rate of 9.5%.
(NEW RATES AVAILABLE ON 9/16)
Highlights of what the Patrick-Murray Administration is doing to help Unemployed, Under-employed, and Incumbent Workers and outside validation that things really are looking up in Massachusetts.
Ø Governor Patrick’s tireless work to create a friendly atmosphere for business investment has helped to create 19,200 jobs in the private sector in July, the largest over the month private sector job gain in twenty years!
Ø The Governor realizes that it’s a tough time for small business and that’s why he signed the recent Economic Development Bill. In addition to creating a tax-free weekend that boosted sales at retailers across the Commonwealth, the bill will also create and preserve jobs, streamline statewide economic development efforts, and aid small businesses in accessing much-needed capital.
Ø Governor Patrick has focused on small business throughout his term because he understands that these businesses are the leading source of job creation in Massachusetts. He has aggressively fought against skyrocketing health insurance premiums that make it difficult for small businesses to expand and hire new workers.
Ø The Patrick-Murray administration has been aggressively moving forward to promote clean energy initiatives across the state. The Governor has made public investments to improve efficiency in buildings across the Commonwealth and highlighted the overwhelming environmental and economic benefits of working toward a clean energy future. A green economy translates into jobs in a new, high-growth sector and the Governor will continue to lead the national charge toward a cleaner future.
Ø Governor Patrick believes that education is the key to prosperity in Massachusetts and he has consistently worked to enhance the schools and support higher education institutions in the Commonwealth. The Patrick Administration is dedicated to making these schools the envy of the nation.
Ø Under Governor Patrick’s leadership, the Commonwealth was named a winner in Race to the Top securing $250 million dollars in funding for our schools. Race to the Top/ARRA Race to the Top Massachusetts is one of 12 winning states in the national Race to the Top competition, funded by the U.S. Department of Education to promote reform in four areas: standards and assessments, great teachers and leaders, school turnaround and data systems. Press Release - http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3pressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Agov3&b=pressrelease&f=100824_RTTT_win&csid=Agov3
Ø The College Board Advocacy and Policy Center determined that the Commonwealth enjoys the highest college graduation rate of any state in the nation.
Ø For the first time in at least two decades, more US residents are moving to Massachusetts than moving out, a dramatic turnaround that has helped fuel the state’s sharpest population growth since 2001, according to new estimates from the US Census Bureau. (Boston Globe -December 25, 2009)
Ø Massachusetts ranks 5th in nation as a top state for business http://www.cnbc.com/id/37516963
Ø Article in Boston Globe July 30, 2010 Source for Bar Graph Below– UMASS http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2010/07/mass_economy_is.html?p1=News_links
