April 30, 2007 12:04 PM

Wow and double wow
Posted by Douglas Eisenhartat 12:04 PM

It's been awhile since Massachusetts has received two pieces of stunningly good economic news like this, especially back to back.

First, a report came out from UMass saying that the state's economy grew at a rate quadruple that of the nation as a whole during the first quarter of the year:

The Massachusetts economy surged in the first quarter, nearly quadrupling the national growth rate and recalling the technology-driven expansion of the 1990s.

The state's economy grew at a 4.7 percent annual rate in the first quarter, the fastest pace in nearly 7 years, according to a report yesterday from the University of Massachusetts. The US economy grew at a 1.3 percent rate, its worst performance since early 2003, the Commerce Department said.

Then, today the news came out from the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics that Massachusetts' unemployment rate dropped the most of any state in the country in March:

Massachusetts had an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent, down 0.9 percent from February, said the bureau. . . The jobless rate in Massachusetts had been in the 4.8- to 5.3-percent range since April 2004, the bureau said.

Job seekers, get out there and take advantage of this surging regional economy. As it heats up, so do the job opportunities. And good timing to you, graduating seniors!