Unemployment Rate Down In The Commonwealth

Following the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary April 2011 jobs report released last week, it appears that the economy may be on the right track in the state of Massachusetts as well as the country as a whole.

While regional and state unemployment numbers didn’t change significantly from March to April according to the report, 39 states recorded unemployment rate decreases and 42 states reported a decrease of people claiming that they were unemployed, with Massachusetts falling under both categories.

The Commonwealth was fourth in the number of total non-farm payroll jobs added over the month with 19,500, second only to Pennsylvania (23,700), Texas (32,900) and New York (45,700). This April Growth reduced the Bay State’s unemployment rate by two-tenths of a percent to 7.8 percent, the only statistically significant change reported by the BLS in New England other than New Hampshire’s drop from 5.2 percent to 4.9 percent.

Nearby New Hampshire also gained 4,700 non-farm jobs over the month while Vermont was the only other New England state other than New Hampshire and Massachusetts to post a statistically significant change in total employment, losing 2,200 non-farm jobs between March and April.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Division of Unemployment Assistance updated the figure several days later to an estimated unemployment rate of 7.4 percent, a one percent drop that resulted in 35,000 fewer unemployed Bay State residents between April 2010 and April 2011.

Governor Deval Patrick responded to the news with the belief that the Commonwealth may have finally turned the corner from the recession of recent years, but that more work still has to be done.

“The recent job statistics serve as hopeful news once again that the Commonwealth is continuing its robust recovery. We have added jobs across nearly all sectors, and our unemployment rate has fallen more than a full point below the national average -- signs that our record investments in infrastructure, education, and innovation are paying off,” said Patrick.  “We also recognize that our work is not done, and that there those out there still seeking a better way. For them, we continue to fight every day to ensure that everyone seeking a job can find one.”