The MA Jobs Trend Continues - and Magnifies
The country might be in a bit of trouble, but the trends in MA have so far survived. Massachusetts added 19,200 private sector jobs in July, losing some (primarily federal census workers) to create a net gain of 13,200 jobs. This held the unemployment rate steady, but the jobs creation in MA this year is the best growth in 20 years. This graph in johnk’s BMG post really just sums it up - not only are we growing jobs, but we’re increasing the total workforce number, so far. (Numbers in graph are in the thousands - johnk’s source according to him via email.) If you click on that link, you’ll see a pretty even distribution of job growth in the private sector categories across the board.
In all, 60,200 jobs have been added in MA since December. And Massachusetts in the second quarter has grown at twice the rate as the nation.
It’s not all great news. While we’re doing much better here, nationwide, a mere 71,000 private-sector jobs were added nationwide in July. Mass’s share of those jobs (if the national number is the total # of jobs, not net) is an astounding 27%. Even if the 71,000 jobs is the net number, MA would account for 18%. But it’s hard to know how sustainable our decent level of growth is while the rest of the nation slows. So cautious optimism is called for.
Still, these are really impressive numbers, and as johnk says, “It’s getting more and more difficult to take other candidates seriously when they repeat how Massachusetts is losing jobs.”
August 19th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Not @ Cobham Defense Electronics on Pawtucket Blvd. As of 3 pm today 32 folks working there lost their jobs! This is on top of the 22 who took voluntary separations two weeks ago! And Other Cobham locations around the country are laying off equivalent percentages. For instance a small Cobham business in Hunt Valley Md let 8 workers go today. Its *not* good out there folks. Tomorrow they are supposed to tell us the *good* news, i.e., we have mega-orders booked for 2012 delivery. That’s *if* we are even still in existence then!
August 19th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Well, individual mileage may vary, even in the best of times, which this certainly is *not*.
Sorry for your job losses…though if you’re in the defense industry (unsure but the name sounds it), you better expect some more. First, we’re pulling combat resources out of Iraq…so less need. Second, we spend way too much on our military. I’d rather recommit those same resources to fix more of our ailing infrastructure.
August 19th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
We are leading the country out of the recession, because as has always been the case, Massachusetts in the leader of the American innovation economy. Shipbuilding, textile milling, you name it, we’ve been in the forefront at every point in American history.
The industries of the future are what will bring this country back, and that means us.
Oh, and that includes hi-tech military contracts and R&D.
August 20th, 2010 at 7:33 am
Chris is in, Ellen’s done.
August 21st, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Ellen may be done but EILEEN is not done!
August 23rd, 2010 at 7:37 pm
OMG, thread hijacks are so amateur! Wow.
August 23rd, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Leading the country out of recession? Our jobless rate is in the bottom half of the 50 states. On the radio today, they talked about Massachusetts having the 2nd highest unemployment rate in New England, better than only the corrupt state of Rhode Island. Sorry for not doing jumping jacks, but when the hillbillies in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, along with Connecticut have better unemployment rates than us, we’re not leading jack.
August 26th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
NH has a low unemployment rate because half the state works in MA - just check out routes 3, 93 and 95 in the morning. The other half has sales jobs.
August 26th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
“Leading the country out of recession?”
Yep. When you have 2% of the country’s population, and create a quarter of the private-sector jobs, that means you’re leading the country out of the recession.
August 26th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
“When you have 2% of the country’s population, and create a quarter of the private-sector jobs, that means you’re leading the country out of the recession.”
Actually, it means that you held back a bigger chunk of your stimulus money than every other state so you could have false numbers to brag about as you try to fight off a very strong election challenge.
August 27th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
WTF are you talking about? Okaaaaay.
September 5th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
I’m talking about the fact that as the nation’s economy showed slight improvement in 2009, the Bay State lagged behind. That’s very likely because while most states used their stimulus money right away. Patrick held a good portion of it back till 2010. So while the rest of the country is now backsliding into recession, the Governor is able to brag about miniscule job growth numbers. And make no mistake, the job growth numbers both nationally and in Mass are miniscule, especially after such a long recession. We should be BOOMING right now. We’re not.
So isn’t it pretty obvious the Gov held back that money to show some type of election year growth, instead of using it all up in 2009 and having our numbers resemble the rest of the nation’s? A cynice like yours truly certainly thinks so.
September 6th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
“That’s very likely because while most states used their stimulus money right away. Patrick held a good portion of it back till 2010.”
You are so full of it. Patrick got criticized at the time for using too much stimulus money and NOT saving some of it, now you’re pulling out the (tired, and discredited) meme that he didn’t spend enough quickly enough?
Try something that hasn’t been disproven, please.