BOSTON (AP) - Preliminary estimates show Massachusetts gained more than 5,000 jobs in September while the state’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.6 percent - the lowest it’s been since June 2001.
The state Office of Labor and Workforce Development said Thursday that 63,800 jobs had been created since the beginning of this year.
The 3.6 percent unemployment rate was down from 3.9 percent in August. The rate was 4.8 percent a year ago and state officials say there were 43,000 fewer unemployed residents last month than in September 2015.
The largest job gains last months were in the education and health services, and leisure and hospitality sectors.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics did revise downward its estimate of employment growth in August, saying Massachusetts gained 3,600 jobs instead of the previously reported 5,900 jobs.
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