Projo Biz Blog

BOSTON (AP) -- The Massachusetts unemployment rate rose slightly from 7.7 percent in February to 7.8 percent in March as an additional 20,300 jobs were lost statewide.

Meanwhile, the Connecticut Department of Labor says the state's unemployment rate has edged up to 7.5 percent. Figures shows the rate went up from the 7.4 jobless rate the month before.

Rhode Island is releasing the state's March figures Friday. Rhode Island's unemployment rate was a seasonally adjusted 10.5 percent in February.

The national unemployment rate jumped from 8.1 percent in February to 8.5 percent in March.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday the February unemployment rate, originally estimated at 7.8 percent, had been revised downward to 7.7 percent.

While the education and health services sectors in Massachusetts showed some job growth, jobs in leisure and hospitality posted the largest monthly drop with 6,200 jobs lost.

Officials say education and health services are the only private sectors that have added jobs over the year.

In Connecticut, State Labor Economist John Tirinzonie says job losses in March show a moderation in the rate of decline compared to the February figures.

Tirinzonie says there are some positive signs, both nationally and in Connecticut which indicate a bottoming out of this recession.

A year ago, the Connecticut's jobless rate was 5.3 percent.

 Tags  Connecticut Massachusetts Rhode Island

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