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Area's jobless down
Top Headlines An encouraging sign, economist Alan Clayton-Matthews said, is the statewide rate also went down because more people found jobs, rather than giving up hope and dropping out of the labor force. "That is certainly a good thing," said Clayton-Matthews, associate professor of public policy at Northeastern University. "Unemployment really did go down. I think things are improving," he said. Clayton-Matthews said one-month improvements are not proof that the economy is on the upswing, but the October numbers are too good to ignore. The statewide unemployment rate dropped to 8.9 percent from 9.3 percent. Every community in The Sun Chronicle circulation area also enjoyed improvements. Attleboro's unemployment rate dipped to 10.7 percent from 11.3 percent in September. North Attleboro went from 10.9 percent to 10.2 percent. Mansfield has one of the lowest jobless rates in the area at 7.2 percent, down from 8.0 percent. More than 250 Attleboro residents found jobs in October. North Attleboro gained a similar amount, while Mansfield's job picture improvement by 180. Clayton-Matthews, who tracks employment for the New England Economic Partnership, said businesses may have laid off so many people that they now have to rehire some to keep up with demand. An improved export market is helping to revive business in Massachusetts, he said. The state Division of Labor and Workforce Development said the job gains were in the areas of professional, science and business services, along with education and health care. On the downside, manufacturing, financial services and state and local government are still shedding jobs, the agency said. State government laid off 700 workers in October, bringing the total for the year to 4,000. Local governments reduced their rolls by 100 in October for a yearly total of 5,300. State Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, said everyone is hoping for a turnaround in the economy, but she is still hearing "stories of desperation" from constituents. Poirier said she receives a steady stream of calls from people who have lost their jobs and are in danger of losing their homes.
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s-plumb wrote on Nov 26, 2009 9:05 AM:
This is more like socialism than capitalism. "
jillk wrote on Nov 25, 2009 8:35 PM:
s-plumb wrote on Nov 25, 2009 12:11 PM:
So which is it; 250 (1%) or 170ish (.6%)? "
s-plumb wrote on Nov 25, 2009 10:57 AM:
s-plumb wrote on Nov 25, 2009 10:24 AM:
2nd) Bush was in office when the recession began, and unfortunately was in charge of the 1st bail-out; A huge economic disaster.
Now, 0bamas far more radical policies, will not create a single permanent job, and will soon bury us all. These progressive policies, started under Bush, are the most glaring reason we are in this situation. "
common_sense wrote on Nov 25, 2009 10:22 AM:
An encouraging sign, economist Alan Clayton-Matthews said, is the statewide rate also went down because more people found jobs, rather than giving up hope and dropping out of the labor force.
And you can spin it anyway you want, but certainly you are hearing less and less about job losses these days. The economy IS improving (certainly not as fast as we would like), I know we are planning on adding people, we are really busy. "
qtrback wrote on Nov 25, 2009 9:53 AM:
celt wrote on Nov 25, 2009 8:57 AM:
s-plumb wrote on Nov 25, 2009 8:29 AM:
gimmesum wrote on Nov 25, 2009 8:00 AM:
kevin h. wrote on Nov 25, 2009 7:54 AM:
Are the new jobs well paying, or is it just work? "