Mass. unemployment rate down in September

BOSTON – Massachusetts’ unemployment rate dropped from 8.8 percent in August to 8.4 percent in September – the steepest drop since January 1976, the Mass. Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development said.
The rate, which sat at 9.5 percent in January and February, remains below the 9.6 percent national rate. Over the year, the rate is down 0.6 percentage points from the 9.0 percent rate in September 2009.
Preliminary September job estimates show 3,175,900 jobs in the state, a decrease of 20,900 jobs from August. Most of those losses came in accommodation and food-services industries – a drop the office attributed to the end of the summer tourist season. Losses were also felt in the education and health services, and government sectors.
Financial activities, information and professional, scientific and business services all added jobs.
Despite the drop from August to September, total jobs are up 23,400 from September 2009. &#8226