State adds 4,400 jobs; more now working than when Romney took office

Massachusetts employers added 4,400 jobs last month, finally erasing the so-called "jobs deficit" of Governor Mitt Romney. The state unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent.

It took nearly four years, but Massachusetts now has more payroll jobs -- 700 -- than when Romney took office in January 2003, according to data reported by the Department of Workforce Development. The state, however, still has 150,000 fewer jobs than at the pre-recession peak of early 2001.

June's job gains added to evidence that the Massachusetts' recovery may finally have gained traction. In the last three months, the state gained nearly 13,000 jobs, compared to about 4,000 in the previous three months. Over the last year, Massachusetts employers have boosted payrolls by more than 27,000 jobs.

"State revenues are surging, jobs are up and people are feeling more confident about the Massachusetts economy," said Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney's spokesman. "This is a dramatic turnaround from the dark days of the economic and fiscal crisis that Governor Romney faced when he took office three and a half years ago."

Professional and business services, one of the state's leading employment sectors, led job gains with 2,200. That sector has added 7,800 jobs in the last year. Another key sector, financial services, added 500 jobs, its sixth consecutive monthly gain.

Manufacturing also added 500 jobs, its third consecutive monthly gain. The sector has added 2,500 since January. Other sectors adding jobs last month were education and health services, and leisure and hospitality, which includes hotels, restaurants and entertainment businesses.

Construction employment, however, slipped 300 jobs in June, the fourth monthly decline in the last five months. Trade, transportation, and utilities employment fell 500.
(By Robert Gavin, Globe staff)

To see a graphic of Massachusetts employment, click here.