State Gains Jobs In June; Unemployment Rate Unchanged

The Massachusetts unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 percent last month while estimates showed the state adding thousands of jobs.

The state office of Labor and Workforce Development also said Thursday in its June jobs report that more than 48,000 jobs were added in Massachusetts during the first half of 2016.

The jobless rate was unchanged at 4.2 percent for the third consecutive month. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in June.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics says preliminary estimates showed a gain of 16,400 in Massachusetts last month, though some of the increase was attributable to the resolution of a strike by Verizon workers in May.