BOSTON - January 21, 2010 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported today that the unemployment rate rose to 9.4 percent in December from the revised November rate of 8.7 percent. The Massachusetts rate remains below the national unemployment rate, which was 10.0 percent in December, the same as the November rate.

In Massachusetts, Education and Health Services; Government; Other Services; Manufacturing; and Financial Activities added jobs in December, while Trade, Transportation and Utilities; Leisure and Hospitality; Construction; Professional, Scientific and Business Services; and Information recorded job losses. Jobs were down 8,400 for the month of December. At 3,164,000, jobs are down 66,200 or 2.0 percent from one year ago.

Employment Overview
Education and Health Services added 1,000 jobs in December, the third consecutive monthly gain for a sector that has added 4,100 jobs since September. Health Care and Social Assistance and Educational Services each added 500 jobs. With 656,600 jobs overall, Education and Health Services is the largest sector in Massachusetts generating 13,300 jobs over the year.

Other Services gained 800 jobs in December, following two months of losses. With employment at 116,600, jobs are down 1,700 or 1.4 percent from one year ago with the largest losses in Personal and Laundry Services.

Manufacturing added 500 jobs in December, the second consecutive monthly jobs gain for this sector. Durable Goods jobs grew by 700 more than offsetting Non-Durable Goods' 200 job loss. Manufacturing jobs, which are now at 266,900, are down 14,200 or 5.1 percent from one year ago.

Financial Activities gained 300 jobs in December, following a revised 1,000 job loss in November. This is Financial Activities first monthly job gain since May, with all of the gain in Finance and Insurance. Real Estate and Rental and Leasing jobs were unchanged. At 205,200, the Financial Activities sector is down 6,200 jobs or 2.9 percent from one year ago. Within Finance and Insurance, Credit Intermediation and Related Activities added 1,600 jobs over the year.

Government added 900 jobs over the month with gains in State and Local Government while Federal Government lost jobs. Seasonal adjustment may be over stating State Government jobs due to less than expected seasonal changes. Over the year, Government jobs are down 11,100 with Local Government down 5,600 jobs and State Government down 4,100 jobs. Separate state employment figures, based on actual state payroll, has shown a consistent decline over the last year.

Trade, Transportation and Utilities lost 5,000 jobs in December, the fourth consecutive monthly job loss for this sector. Retail Trade jobs are down 3,300 following a revised loss of 1,900 jobs in November; Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities lost 1,400 jobs and Wholesale Trade lost 300 jobs. With employment at 533,800, this sector had shed 21,200 jobs or 3.8 percent over the year. Within Retail Trade, Grocery Stores added 2,300 jobs over the year.

Leisure and Hospitality lost 3,400 jobs in December, as Arts, Entertainment and Recreation lost 2,400 jobs and Accommodation and Food Services lost 1,000 jobs. At 297,600, jobs are down 1,400 over the year due to losses in Arts, Entertainment and Recreation exceeding the 1,600 job gain in Accommodation and Food Services.

Construction lost 1,800 jobs after gaining jobs in the previous two months. At 107,000, Construction employment is down 15,600 over the year with losses in all industries.

Professional, Scientific and Business Services lost 1,400 jobs in December, after a revised job gain of 1,500 in November. Administrative, Support and Waste Management Services lost 1,900 jobs due mostly to losses in Services to Buildings and Dwellings. The Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, which added 400 jobs in December, has gained 2,900 jobs since September; Management of Companies and Enterprises gained 100 jobs. With employment at 464,800, Professional, Scientific and Business Services jobs are down 6,900 or 1.5 percent from one year ago. However, within Professional, Scientific and Business Services, Computer Systems Design added 1,800 jobs over the year and Scientific, Research and Development gained 500 jobs.

Information lost 300 jobs in December. Information employment of 85,600 is down 1,200 jobs or 1.4 percent from one year ago with losses in Publishing and Telecommunications.

Labor Force Overview
The labor force declined by 22,000 in December with 43,100 fewer Massachusetts residents employed and 21,100 more residents unemployed. In December, 3,108,600 residents were employed and 323,200 residents were unemployed. At 3,431,800, the labor force was down 800 from December 2008 with 104,300 fewer residents employed and 103,500 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 December 2009 will be released on Tuesday, January 26, 2010. The January 2010 unemployment rate and labor force data for Massachusetts will be released on March 4, 2010, as will the revised historical jobs and labor force estimates. (See the January, 2010 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.