BOSTON - December 20, 2007 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported today that the Massachusetts unemployment rate in November remained at its six year low of 4.3 percent.

The November rate is down nearly a full percentage point from the 5.2 percent rate recorded one year ago and remains four tenths of a percentage point below the U.S. unemployment rate which held at 4.7 percent for the third consecutive month. The U.S rate is up slightly from the 4.5 percent rate recorded in November 2006.

Jobs increased by 6,700 in November, nearly offsetting the revised employment loss of 7,500 in October, which was originally recorded at 3,000.

The Bay State has added 25,000 new jobs to date in 2007, and at 3,285,300, jobs are up by 29,300 or 0.9 percent from one year ago.

Job increases were recorded in nearly all super sectors with the largest jobs gains in the professional, scientific, and business services, leisure and hospitality, and construction sectors.

Massachusetts has gained back 106,400, or just over half of the jobs lost in the last downturn.

Employment Overview
Professional, scientific and business services added 1,300 new jobs in November, largely the result of strong increases in computer systems design and related services and management, scientific, and technical consulting services. Employment in this super sector is up 10,500 or 2.2 percent to 484,900 since November 2006, and has the highest annual growth rate among the super sectors.

Education and health services added 700 jobs in November, with jobs in this super sector at 623,800. Jobs were off by 2,400 in October, revised from the originally reported 1,100 job increase. Over the year, jobs in education and health services have grown by 11,300 or 1.8 percent. In addition to adding the most jobs, this sector also has the second highest percentage increase of any super sector.

Financial activities employment was up by 500 over the month; job gains occurred in the finance and insurance sub component with real estate and rental and leasing holding steady. At 224,800, financial activities employment is up slightly from one year ago.

Trade, transportation and utilities added 700 jobs in November. Since November 2006, employment in this super sector is up by 2,400 or 0.4 percent to 573,900. The wholesale trade sector and transportation, warehousing, and utilities are up by 2,400 and 1,900 respectively. These gains were partially offset by a 1,900 job decline in retail trade.

The leisure and hospitality and construction super sectors both posted over the month gains of 1,200 and 1,100 jobs respectively. Leisure and hospitality jobs are up by 5,100 or 1.7 percent over the year. Over the year, construction employment is off by 2,000 or 1.4 percent.

Among other super sectors, information employment was up marginally and manufacturing employment was off 400.

The job numbers are the result of a monthly survey that uses U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics methodology. More than 9,000 Massachusetts employers are surveyed to determine the number of jobs by industry. These estimates are the economic indicator used to gauge the Commonwealth's employment growth patterns.

Labor Force Overview
The Bay State's labor force grew by 7,400 over the month due to a 1,400 increase in the number of unemployed residents and an increase of 6,100 employed residents. The labor force, at 3,420,100, is 1,300 above the level in November 2006, as 31,200 more residents are employed than at this time last year. There are 29,800 fewer unemployed residents than one year ago.

NOTES: area unemployment statistics for November 2007 will be released on Thursday, December 27, 2007. The December 2007 unemployment rate and labor force data for Massachusetts will be released on Thursday, January 17, 2008, as will the December 2007 survey of jobs. Detailed labor market information is available at www.mass.gov/eolwd. Historical jobs and labor force estimates for Massachusetts have been revised as of 3/1/07.