BOSTON - August 20, 2009 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported today that the unemployment rate in Massachusetts rose to 8.8 percent in July with 2,800 jobs lost as compared to June's 8.6 percent unemployment rate. Leisure and Hospitality gained the most jobs, while Government and Manufacturing recorded the largest monthly declines. The July national unemployment rate was 9.4 percent compared to 9.5 percent in June.

At 3,184,300, jobs are down 109,400 or 3.3 percent from one year ago, with 102,500 of the net job loss occurring over the seven month period between September 2008 and April 2009. Education and Health Services and Leisure and Hospitality recorded higher job numbers than one year ago. Professional, Scientific and Business Services and Trade, Transportation and Utilities recorded the largest over the year declines; Construction continues to show the highest rate of job loss.

Employment Overview
Leisure and Hospitality added 3,900 jobs following on a 2,800 gain in June. This sector recorded the largest monthly increase in jobs in July with most of the gains in Accommodation and Food Services. Employment in this sector, which has fluctuated during 2009, is up 10,800 jobs since April. At 307,600, jobs are up 2,700 over the year, with gains in Accommodation and Food Services.

Professional, Scientific, and Business Services added 600 jobs. In July, the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services component gained 400 jobs, while the Administrative and Waste Management Services component, which includes Temporary Help Agencies, added 600 jobs. Management of Companies lost 400 jobs. This sector has added jobs in two of the last three months. At 457,900, employment in the overall sector is down 29,900 or 6.1 percent from one year ago. Since April this sector has added 2,100 jobs.

Information added 200 jobs in July, after losing 200 jobs in June. At 85,100, Information employment is down 4,000 or 4.5 percent from one year ago with losses in all components.

Government jobs were down 2,000 over the month with losses in State and Local Governments more than offsetting the small job gain in Federal Government. Over the year, Government jobs have declined by 7,300 with losses in all three components.

Manufacturing employment dropped 1,900 in July with losses in both Non-Durable Goods and Durable Goods. At 269,300 Manufacturing employment is down 17,200 or 6.0 percent from one year ago. Within Durable Goods Manufacturing, Transportation Equipment posted an over the year gain.

Financial Activities recorded a 900 job loss in July. Following a small job gain in May, Financial Activities has lost 2,000 jobs over the last two months. At 207,700, the Financial Activities sector is down 13,300 jobs or 6.0 percent from one year ago. Losses in Finance and Insurance exceed those in the much smaller Real Estate, Rental and Leasing component.

Other Services jobs are off 800 in July. With employment at 117,100, jobs are down 3,800 or 3.1 percent from one year ago. The largest losses were in Personal Laundry, and Religious, Grantmaking, Civic and Other Organizations.

Construction shed 700 jobs in July, with fewer seasonal jobs especially in specialty trades. At 111,200, employment is down 21,300 or 16.1 percent from one year ago. Construction has the largest over the year percentage job loss of any sector in Massachusetts.

Trade, Transportation and Utilities jobs were off 700 in July. A 300 job gain in Wholesale Trade, the first employment increase in nine months, offset the 300 loss in Retail Trade. Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities lost 700 jobs. Employment in the sector is down 24,600 or 4.3 percent from one year ago to 545,600. Nearly all of the over the year job losses were in Retail and Wholesale Trade.

Education and Health Services jobs were off 500 in July after adding 6,800 jobs from April through June. All of the losses occurred in Education Services reflecting less than expected jobs for this time of the year. Health Care and Social Assistance added 2,000 jobs. Education and Health Services added 9,400 jobs or 1.5 percent over the year. With 651,900 jobs in July, Education and Health Services is the largest sector in Massachusetts, employing one out of every five workers.

Labor Force Overview
The Bay State's labor force increased by 21,500 over the month with 12,400 more Massachusetts residents employed and 9,000 more unemployed. At 3,440,800, the labor force is up 15,200 from July 2008 with 109,400 fewer residents employed and 124,500 more residents unemployed.

The unemployment rate is based on a monthly sample of households, while the job estimates are derived from a monthly sample survey of employers. As a result, the two statistics may exhibit different trends.

NOTES: Local area unemployment statistics for July 2009 will be released on Tuesday, August 25, 2009. The August 2009 unemployment rate and labor force data for Massachusetts will be released on Thursday, September 17, 2009, as will the August 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.