State jobless rate at 3 percent

The Massachusetts unemployment rate rose in May, but rested at the low rate of 3 percent. State labor officials, citing federal data, reported on June 21 that Massachusetts lost 3,600 jobs in May, despite the addition of 400 government jobs.

Over the past year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that Bay State employers have added 26,700 jobs. The bulk of the job gains were in education and health services (14,300), professional services (7,100) and government (4,200).

“Massachusetts continues to experience a strong economy with a low unemployment rate of 3 percent and over 60,000 more employed residents and 17,500 fewer unemployed residents in the last year,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta said in a statement. “Also, the Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate remains at a near 15-year high and is 5 points above the U.S. rate.”

The U.S. jobless rate in May was 3.6 percent.


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