Massachusetts August Unemployment Rate Up A Bit

The Massachusetts unemployment rate edged up two-tenths of a points in August while preliminary figures show the state losing about 4,800 jobs during the month. The Office of Labor and Workforce Development reports that the state's unemployment rate stood at 6.3 percent in August, up from 6.1 percent in July.  The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics said the August job loss in Massachusetts followed a revised gain of 300 jobs in July. The state has picked up an estimated 31,400 jobs in 2012.

The state's unemployment rate is down from 7.4 percent at this time a year ago and remains below the national jobless rate of 8.1 percent in august. The Greater New Bedford unemployment rate is being released next week.