BOSTON - May 21, 2009 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported today that the Massachusetts unemployment rate increased to 8.0 percent in April from 7.7 percent in March. The March rate was originally estimated at 7.8 percent.

The national unemployment rate climbed to 8.9 percent in April from 8.5 percent in March. One year ago, in April 2008, Massachusetts recorded a 4.8 percent rate while the U.S. rate was at 5.0 percent.

April job losses totaled 12,100. While the Massachusetts economy continues to feel the effects of the national recession, the April job loss was significantly lower than the 19,900 job decline in March. The Information sector added jobs in April while Government sector jobs were unchanged with losses in State and Local Government offset by gains in Federal Government. All other sectors recorded job losses over the month.

At 3,183,000, jobs are down 116,100 or 3.5 percent from one year ago, with 93,900 of the net job loss occurring over the last six months.

Employment Overview
Education and Health Services recorded a minor job decline for the second straight month. A 900 monthly decrease in Educational Services was partially offset by a 200 increase in Health Care and Social Assistance. At 646,000, Education and Health Services remains the only private sector to add jobs over the year, with Health Care and Social Assistance accounting for 8,000 of the 8,500 jobs added from one year ago.

Government jobs were unchanged over the month as an increase of 1,500 jobs in Federal Government was offset by declines in both State Government and Local Government of 600 and 900 respectively.

Professional, Scientific, and Business Services recorded the largest job decline in April, posting a 3,500 job loss, but once again, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services component remained relatively stable. The Administrative and Waste Management Services component, which includes Temporary Help Agencies, lost 2,700 jobs whereas the larger Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services component edged down by 200 following a 400-job gain the prior month. At 455,900, employment in the overall sector is down 33,100 or 6.8 percent from one year ago, with nearly the entire decline occurring over the past six months. Since April 2008, Administrative and Waste Management Services has declined by 23,300 jobs, while the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services component is down 7,400 jobs.

Financial Activities recorded a 1,000 decline in April after job levels had held fairly steady over the prior two months. Still, the 2,300 job loss over the first four months of 2009 is a significant improvement from the 8,900 job loss over the final three months of 2008. At 209,100, the Financial Activities sector is down 13,100 jobs or 5.9 percent from one year ago. While losses were split between Finance and Insurance and Real Estate, Rental and Leasing, the 14.3 percent decline in the latter was larger than that for any other sub-sector for which estimates are published.

Trade, Transportation and Utilities lost 2,300 jobs in April with retail trade again showing most of the decline. Employment in the sector is down 24,900 or 4.4 percent from one year ago to 546,600, with nearly all the annual job loss attributed to declines in Retail and Wholesale Trade.

Leisure and Hospitality jobs were off 700 over the month, a substantial reduction from the 5,700 job loss recorded in March. At 296,700, jobs are off 9,000 over the year, with most of the losses in Accommodation and Food Services.

Information jobs were up 600 in April, the only sector to post over the month gains. At 85,100, Information employment is down 6,000 or 6.6 percent from one year ago, with job losses concentrated in Newspaper, Periodical, and Book Publishing and Telecommunications.

Manufacturing jobs continued to trend downward with a 1,400 decline in April with losses recorded in both Nondurable and Durable Goods. At 272,800 Manufacturing employment is down 16,100 or 5.6 percent from one year ago. Transportation Equipment and Food Products were the only Manufacturing industries to post over the year gains, while Fabricated Metals and Computer and Electronic Products recorded the largest losses.

Construction jobs fell by 1,900 in April. At 117,000, jobs are down 17,500 or 13.0 percent from one year ago, nearly twice the rate of decline of any other sector.

The job numbers are the result of a monthly survey that uses U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics methodology. More than 8,000 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 increased by 13,400 over the month with 3,600 more Massachusetts residents employed and 9,800 more unemployed. At 3,434,500, the labor force is up 14,300 from April 2008 as 96,300 fewer residents were employed and 110,400 more were unemployed.

Labor force estimates for Massachusetts, developed using the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics model, are based on information on Massachusetts resident employment and unemployment status collected through a small monthly sample survey of households.

For more information on the Massachusetts Recovery Plan, visit the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development at www.mass.gov/recovery

NOTES: Local area unemployment statistics for April 2009 will be released on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. The May 2009 unemployment rate and labor force data for Massachusetts will be released on Thursday, June 18, 2009, as will the May 2009 survey of jobs. (See the January, 2009 Media Advisory annual schedule for complete listing of release dates.) Detailed labor market information is available at www.mass.gov/lmi. Historical jobs and labor force estimates for Massachusetts have been revised as of 3/05/09.