Department of Numbers

Massachusetts Job Growth

There were 3,234,500 jobs in Massachusetts in December 2011 according to the CES survey of employers. The CPS survey of households showed 3,257,324 employed persons for the month. Massachusetts lost 6,200 jobs in December 2011 according to the CES survey while the broader CPS employment measure rose by 6,172 (Comparing CES and CPS employment numbers.). Also available is Massachusetts job growth compared to other states.

Employment Survey December 2011 Month/Month Year/Year
CES 3,234,500 -6,200 +40,700
CPS 3,257,324 +6,172 +49,062

Massachusetts Employment Changes

The charts below shows the monthly job growth for Massachusetts as measured by the CES and CPS surveys. To illustrate the trend, the 3 month moving average change in employment is shown in green.

CES Employment Change: 1 Month, Rolling 3 Month

CPS Employment Change: 1 Month, Rolling 3 Month

Total Employment in Massachusetts

CES employment peaked in February 2001 for Massachusetts at 3,384,400. Since then 149,900 jobs have been lost in Massachusetts according to the employer survey. From a trough of 3,161,100 in August 2009, Massachusetts has gained 73,400 jobs according to CES employment figures.

CPS employment in Massachusetts reached a maximum of 3,297,978 in February 2001. 40,654 jobs have been lost in Massachusetts since then according to the household survey. From a November 2009 low of 3,167,480, Massachusetts has added 89,844 jobs according to the CPS survey.

Employment: CES, CPS

CES and CPS employment chart through December 2011

Massachusetts Employment History

Date CES
Employment
CES
Month/Month
CPS
Employment
CPS
Month/Month
December 2011 3,234,500 -6,200 3,257,324 6,172
November 2011 3,240,700 300 3,251,152 13,544
October 2011 3,240,400 11,900 3,237,608 13,813
September 2011 3,228,500 -5,500 3,223,795 11,777
August 2011 3,234,000 -10,500 3,212,018 3,590
July 2011 3,244,500 10,400 3,208,428 -15,449
June 2011 3,234,100 9,400 3,223,877 -7,926
May 2011 3,224,700 -4,100 3,231,803 -1,407
April 2011 3,228,800 20,300 3,233,210 11,665
March 2011 3,208,500 -1,300 3,221,545 8,219
February 2011 3,209,800 14,400 3,213,326 2,010
January 2011 3,195,400 1,600 3,211,316 3,054
December 2010 3,193,800 4,000 3,208,262 1,741