The commonwealth’s jobless rate inched up to 5.6 percent in June following a drop in the number of people in the workforce and a decline in residents with jobs.
The local labor force declined by 4,000 from May’s record high level of 6.54 million, the Department of Labor and Industry said. Nearly 6.2 million people had jobs, while the unemployed number increased by 3,000 people to 364,000.
However, total nonfarm jobs rose by 20,000 for the month to nearly 5.9 million. Nine of the 11 sectors measured by the labor department posted job increases in June, with information leading the way with a gain of 5,200.
Mining and logging and trade, transportation and utilities accounted for the only declines, with each sector posting job losses of 600.
Construction jobs grew by 3,400 over the month, while leisure and hospitality added 2,400 jobs. Government jobs rose by 1,600.
Metro-level data for June will be released in early August.
