Mass. jobless rate highest in 30 years at 9.3 pct

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BOSTON -The unemployment rate in Massachusetts rose to 9.3 percent in September, reaching its highest level since 1976.

The state's jobless rate remained a half-point lower than the national average, which rose to 9.8 percent last month. The Massachusetts rate was 9.1 percent in August.

The state lost another 9,200 jobs last month, with employment falling in several sectors of the economy, the office of Labor and Workforce Development said Thursday. The largest decline of 5,800 jobs came in the leisure and hospitality industry.

Employment was also down in manufacturing, construction and government. The professional, scientific and business services sector lost 200 jobs in September after gaining more than 3,000 jobs over the previous two months.

One of the few bright spots was the information sector, which gained 500 jobs, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase.

Suzanne Bump, state Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, said despite the most recent unemployment report the Massachusetts economy was still showing positive trends, including a net gain of 2,000 private sector jobs since April.

She also said last month's job report pointed to an increase in September in the hiring of temporary employees, which can often be a harbinger of recovery.

"Many employers have historically hired temporary help at the beginning of recoveries until they are certain the economic environment is safe for permanent hires," she said.

The drop in leisure and hospitality jobs, Bump noted, typically occurs in September when the summer tourism season ends.

According to the agency, the last time unemployment hit 9.3 in Massachusetts was in September 1976. The rate soared to above 12 percent earlier in the 1970s, when the New England region was in the throes of a severe recession and downturn in traditional manufacturing.

The jobless rate has climbed four points in the past year; it stood at 5.3 percent in September 2009.

2009-10-15 18:58:43