Massachusetts Unemployment Rate Ticks Up To 6.6 Percent

The Massachusetts unemployment rate ticked up to 6.6 percent in October even as the state's economy added nearly 8,000 jobs. The state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday that the unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage point compared to September, but remains 0.5 of a percentage point below the October 2011 rate of 7.1 percent.

Even though the state unemployment rate rose for the fourth consecutive month, it remains well below the national rate of 7.9 percent. The office says the construction and professional sectors added the most jobs, while the hospitality, and transportation and utility sectors lost jobs. The Greater New Bedford Unemployment rate will be released this Tuesday.