State's monthly unemployment rate drops for first time in more than two years

BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts' monthly unemployment rate has fallen for the first time in nearly 2½ years and just one month after hitting the highest level since 1976.

Jobless rate tops 10% for first time since 1983

WASHINGTON (AP) - The unemployment rate has hit double digits for the first time since 1983 - and is likely to go higher.

Governor says stimulus created, saved 23,000 jobs statewide

BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick is estimating that the federal stimulus program has created or saved 23,000 jobs in Massachusetts since February.

State agencies have received $4 billion from the $787 billion package, and have already spent $1.9 billion.

State jobless rate rises to 9.3 percent in September

BOSTON (AP) - The unemployment rate in Massachusetts rose to 9.3 percent in September, as the state lost another 9,200 jobs.

The jobless rate in Massachusetts remains a half point lower than the national average, which rose to 9.8 percent last month. The state rate was 9.1 percent in August.

Job center adds staff in time for seasonal spike

NORTHAMPTON - It's an odd sight for the Northampton Career Center.

The waiting area, which has regularly featured as many as a dozen people waiting to file unemployment insurance claims leafing through newspapers and job fliers, is empty.

The deserted lobby is not a sign of economic recovery, but that the state brought in the cavalry at the busy regional job center.

As H1N1 looms, Legislature again weighs paid sick days

AMHERST - In a family where both parents work to pay the bills, Marianne Bullock of Amherst had to stay home from work to take care of her year-old daughter, who had a temperature of 105.

Bullock, a personal care assistant with no paid sick days, called out for two days to care for her child, but on the third day she was fired.

Massachusetts unions push bill requiring paid sick days

BOSTON (AP) - Unions are pushing a bill that would require Massachusetts employers offer workers up to seven paid sick days a year.

The sick days could be used for workers to care for themselves or to attend to a sick child, spouse or parent. They could also be used to visit a doctor or for victims of domestic violence to address psychological, physical or legal concerns.