On October 22nd, the state released the unemployment rate for September 2021 and the revised rate for August. Massachusetts' rate increased from August to 5.2 percent, 0.4 of a percentage point above the national rate of 4.8 percent. The MA labor force participation rate was up 0.2 of a percentage point to 65.9 percent, up 1.2 percentage points from the prior year. The labor force increased by 11,300 from August. Since September 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates Massachusetts gained 175,200 jobs. Gains occurred in all sectors led by Leisure and Hospitality; Professional, Scientific, and Business Services; and Trade, Transportation and Utilities. Click here to read the state press release. Local unemployment estimates were released on 10/26 and the local press release can be found here.

On 10/21 DUA released the initial claims for the month ending 10/16/2021. This marks a return to monthly press releases accompanying the state unemployment rate from the weekly press releases that have been issued since the start of the pandemic and the implementation of federal pandemic unemployment assistance. Weekly UI claims reporting can be found here. Click here for the state press release which includes charts of initial and continued claims by demographic characteristics and industry.

This framework still needs to signed off on by the House Democratic caucus. However, if all sides agree, a broader package could be voted on and adopted in the coming weeks. Click here for a fact sheet outlining this framework.

See here for a comparison to the FY22 House Labor, HHS proposal. As expected, the Senate bill is lower on workforce generally but can provide a sense of potential federal funding ranges for the next fiscal year. It is important to note that this was not negotiated with Senate Republicans so it is unlikely to become law. The annual appropriations process is very much up in the air as programs are temporarily only funded through December 3rd.

In addition, last December Congress expanded the program to allow an applicant who had previously received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan to also be eligible for ERTC. Organizations that have not yet done so are encouraged to review whether they are eligible for ERTC. Unless the program is ended earlier through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, organizations will be able to access ERTC until December 31, 2021. See here for more information.

Beth Viveiros, Director of the MassHire Bristol Career Centers, retired from service on September 30th. Beth was an essential staff person in the MA Career Center System for more than 40 years. She started as a data entry clerk and quickly rose through the ranks in many progressively responsible positions including oversight of the Youth Connections office and all youth services for many years. In 2019 she became the MassHire Bristol Career Center Director. Her colleagues were always amazed when customers would walk into the Career Centers and Beth would instantly remember who they were and how the Career Center had helped them, although 10 years or more may have passed between visits. Her colleagues at MassHire Bristol and across the MassHire workforce system will always remember her care and concern for the customer and her incredible work ethic. We wish Beth well in her retirement!

We also welcome Sally Pais as the new Director of the MassHire Bristol Career Centers! We look forward to working with Sally in her new role.

There are so many job postings and funding announcements, so we moved our News from Around the Sector section to our website, where you can access the news, jobs, funding announcements and more throughout the month. Go to: www.massworkforce.com/around-the-sector.