Massachusetts Job Growth Slows In Latest Unemployment Report

MASSACHUSETTS — Massachusetts had an unemployment rate of 9.6 percent in September, down from the adjusted August unemployment rate of 11.4 percent, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report released Friday.

It was the third straight month the Massachusetts unemployment rate fell after peaking at 17.7 percent in June. But Friday's report showed signs of a slowing recovery, with Massachusetts employers adding just 36,900 jobs last month, down from 62,500 in August.

September's national unemployment rate, released earlier this month, was 7.9 percent.

Friday's report came a day after the U.S. Department of Labor released weekly unemployment assistance claims. Thursday's report showed the number of Massachusetts residents applying for first-time unemployment benefits growing for a fourth straight week. For the week ended Oct. 9, 39,000 Massachusetts residents applied for unemployment benefits. It was the highest number since June.

The discouraging data comes even as most Massachusetts towns and cities move forward in the state's coronavirus reopening plan. In most Massachusetts communities, bars, amusement parks and large entertainment venues are the only businesses that have not been cleared to reopen.

Economic historians say the peak unemployment rate in Massachusetts came during the Great Depression in 1934, when it hit 25 percent. During the Great Recession that started in December 2007, Massachusetts' unemployment topped out at 8.3 percent.

Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).