The Pulse of the 495/MetroWest Labor Market Paul E. Harrington Center for Labor Market Studies 315 Holmes Hall Northeastern University 360 Huntington Ave. Boston, MA Phone:

Unemployment Rates 1st Quart3rd Quart Peak to TroughTrough to Present Absolute Change Relative Change Absolute Change Relative Change United States4.2%6.1%5.6%1.9%45.5%-0.6%-9.1% Massachusetts2.8%5.9%5.1%3.0%106.1%-0.8%-13.1% Payroll Employment From CES (in Thousands) 1st Quart3rd Quart Peak to TroughTrough to Present Absolute Change Relative Change Absolute Change Relative Change United States132, , , , %1, % Massachusetts3, , , % % Number Unemployed (in Thousands) 1st Quart3rd Quart Peak to TroughTrough to Present Absolute Change Relative Change Absolute Change Relative Change United States6, , , , % % Massachusetts % %

Labor Force (in Thousands) 1st Quart3rd Quart Peak to TroughTrough to Present Absolute Change Relative Change Absolute Change Relative Change United States143, , , , % % Massachusetts3, , , % % Number of Employed Persons (Household Survey, in Thousands) 1st Quart3rd Quart Peak to TroughTrough to Present Absolute Change Relative Change Absolute Change Relative Change United States137, , , %1, % Massachusetts3, , , % %

Southern Worcester Workforce Investment AreaQ1:2003Q1:2004 Absolute Change Relative Change Total, All Industries 236,279235, Mining Construction 9,98810, Manufacturing 30,65528,399-2, DUR - Durable Goods Manufacturing 21,04619,253-1, NONDUR - Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing 9,6099, , 42, Utilities, Wholesale Trade, Transportation and Warehousing19,47018, Retail Trade 27,58128, Information 4,5484, Finance and Insurance 11,66911, Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 2,3662, Professional and Technical Services 10,94511, Management of Companies and Enterprises 6,0055, Administrative and Waste Services 11,24612,3441, Educational Services 26,89826, Health Care and Social Assistance 37,61537, Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 3,2263, Accommodation and Food Services 16,28417, Other Services, Ex. Public Admin 8,5368, , 81 Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, and Other Services, Ex. Public Admin11,76312, Public Administration 8,9208,

Metro South/West Workforce Investment AreaQ1:2003Q1:2004 Absolute Change Relative Change Total, All Industries 500,812494,317-6, Mining Construction 21,17220, Manufacturing 63,59659,853-3, DUR - Durable Goods Manufacturing 50,00747,396-2, NONDUR - Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing 13,58912,457-1, , 42, Utilities, Wholesale Trade, Transportation and Warehousing39,57838,298-1, Retail Trade 55,22556, Information 24,54423,542-1, Finance and Insurance 21,28321, Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 7,3507, Professional and Technical Services 54,83455, Management of Companies and Enterprises 17,74218, Administrative and Waste Services 23,27322, Educational Services 50,95150, Health Care and Social Assistance 50,58650, Accommodation and Food Services 31,79831, , 81 Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, and Other Services, Ex. Public Admin23,04423, Public Administration 14,85214,

Commonly Found Occupations Don’t employ for this job Decreasing no. of employees No hiring Hiring, but less than last year Hiring about the same as last year Hiring more than last year % Management/Supervisory Level Sales Agents & Representatives Customer Service Representatives Word Processors, Typists & Data Entry Clerks Office Clerks, General Secretaries & Administrative Assistants