Boston ranks fourth in urban job growth

The Boston area had the fourth fastest rate of job growth in July among the nation's 12 biggest metropolitan areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Employment in Boston grew just under 1 percent from July 2007, even as employment nationally fell by a tenth of a percent during this period.

Education and health care, professional and business services, and tourism-related leisure and hospitality led job gains in Boston, the BLS said.

Only three other large metropolitan areas experienced stronger job growth in the past year: Dallas-Fort Worth, up 2.3 percent; Houston, up 2.2 percent; and Washington, up 1.2 percent.
(By Robert Gavin, Globe staff)