BOSTON - December 17, 2009 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported today the unemployment rate declined from 8.9 percent in October to 8.8 percent in November. Education and Health Services; Professional, Scientific and Business Services; Manufacturing and Construction added jobs in November, while Trade, Transportation and Utilities; Financial Activities; Other Services; Government; Leisure and Hospitality and Information recorded job losses. Jobs were down 1,700 for the month of November. The November national unemployment rate was 10.0 percent compared to 10.2 percent in October. At 3,173,600, jobs are down 82,700 or 2.5 percent from one year ago.

Employment Overview
Education and Health Services added 3,100 jobs in November with 1,800 jobs in Educational Services and 1,300 jobs in Health Care and Social Assistance. At 656,900, the Education and Health Services sector has added 13,600 jobs over the year.

Professional, Scientific and Business Services gained 1,200 jobs in November with most of the gain in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services. Administrative, Support and Waste Management Services added 300 jobs; Management of Companies lost 200 jobs. With employment at 465,900, Professional, Scientific and Business Services jobs are down 14,800 or 3.1 percent from one year ago.

Manufacturing added 900 jobs in November with gains in both Durable Goods, 500 jobs, and Non-Durable Goods, 400 jobs. With employment at 266,400, Manufacturing jobs are down 15,600 or 5.5 percent from one year ago.

Construction gained 200 jobs, its second consecutive monthly job gain. At 108,800, Construction employment is down 17,900 or a 14.1 percent rate of job loss over the year.

Trade, Transportation and Utilities lost 2,100 jobs in November with most of the losses in Retail Trade. Transportation, Warehouse and Utilities added 200 jobs, while Wholesale Trade lost 600 jobs. With employment at 539,300, this sector is down 22,100 or 3.9 percent from one year ago with the largest loss in Retail Trade.

Financial Activities jobs were down 2,100 in November. Real Estate and Rental and Leasing accounts for 1,300 jobs lost and Finance and Insurance lost 800 jobs. At 203,800, the Financial Activities sector is down 9,400 jobs or 4.4 percent from one year ago.

Other Services lost 1,700 jobs in November. With employment at 116,400, jobs are down 2,200 or -1.9 percent from one year ago with the largest losses in Personal and Laundry Services.

Government lost 900 jobs over the month after gaining 300 jobs in October. Most of the losses were in Federal Government, down 700 jobs; State Government lost 200 jobs and Local Government jobs were unchanged. Over the year, Government jobs are down 11,600.

Leisure and Hospitality lost 200 jobs in November with all of the loss occurring in Arts, Entertainment and Recreation. At 301,200, jobs are down 900 over the year.

Information shed 100 jobs in October. At 85,900, Information employment is down 1,600 jobs or 1.8 percent from one year ago with losses in Publishing and Telecommunications.

Labor Force Overview
The labor force grew by 10,800 in November with 15,700 more Massachusetts residents employed and 5,100 fewer residents unemployed. In November, 3,151,800 residents were employed and 302,400 residents were unemployed. At 3,454,300, the labor force was up 24,700 from November 2008 with 69,500 fewer residents employed and 94,100 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 November 2009 will be released on Tuesday, December 22, 2009. The December 2009 unemployment rate and labor force data for Massachusetts will be released on Thursday, January 21, 2010, as will the December 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.