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GREATER BOSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Massachusetts Jobs & Policy Update |
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JANUARY |
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Welcome to the January 2010 Massachusetts Jobs & Policy Update from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber publishes this monthly update to provide public officials with insight into state and regional job trends, as well as a snapshot of policy issues that are critical to the region's business community.
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IN THIS ISSUE |
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Public Policy Issues
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Jobs
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PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES |
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Unemployment Insurance: Legislation Needed to Avert Premium Spike |
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Under current law, Massachusetts employers will face a 43% increase in the first quarter of 2010 in unemployment insurance (UI) tax rates unless special legislation is passed. That increase would raise UI costs by an average of $250 per worker. Massachusetts UI costs are already among the very highest in the nation. Enactment of legislation in early 2010 that implements a less dramatic increase in UI tax rates would help mitigate an obstacle
to new hiring, without jeopardizing the long-term solvency of the UI trust fund based on current projections.
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Wind Energy Siting: Facilitating the Growth of Renewable Energy Sources |
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In order to meet the growing need and demand for alternative energy supplies in the state’s residential and commercial markets, legislation is needed to provide clear and predictable siting standards for wind farm facilities. A bill currently before the Legislature will help to ensure that wind facilities are located in appropriate settings, and will streamline the permitting process at state and local levels for wind projects over 2 megawatts
in scope – providing a much needed boost to the state’s renewable energy portfolio. |
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Education Reform Law: A Note of Thanks from the Greater Boston Chamber |
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The Chamber applauds the hard work of the Legislature and the Patrick Administration in enacting the next great advancement in Massachusetts education reform this month. This legislation will double the number of charter schools in the state’s lowest performing districts, offer increased flexibility to school districts, and create methods for the efficient turnaround of underperforming schools. These reforms will provide the tools to expand
the talent pipeline that will help sustain Greater Boston's economy and enable Massachusetts to compete for upwards of $250 million in federal 'Race to the Top' funding. |
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For more information on the Chamber's policy agenda, contact Jim Klocke, executive vice president; Tim Sweeney, director of public policy; or Sarah Lanning, assistant director of economic development. |
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JOBS |
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Massachusetts Jobs Update: December 2009 |
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State lost 8,400 jobs last month; posted 2.0% job loss last 12 months, moderately better than US annual job loss rate of 3.1%
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State unemployment rate jumped to 9.4% following two consecutive month of rate decline; Mass. rate is highest since Aug. 1976, yet remains below US rate of 10.0%
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Nine of 12 regions lost jobs last month; all 12 regions shed jobs year-over-year
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Education & Health Services, Manufacturing, and Financial Activities posted job gains last month
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Regional Jobs Breakdown |
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Metropolitan Region |
Total
Jobs |
Change Since December 2008
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MASSACHUSETTS |
3,164,000 |
-2.0% |
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Barnstable |
92,700 |
-5.8% |
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Boston-Cambridge-Quincy |
1,659,800 |
-1.9% |
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Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton |
84,500 |
-2.6% |
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Framingham |
156,000 |
-1.3% |
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Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury |
74,300 |
-3.1% |
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Leominster-Fitchburg-Gardner |
46,900 |
-4.3% |
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Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford |
113,800 |
-3.6% |
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New Bedford |
63,700 |
-2.7% |
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Peabody |
95,400 |
-3.6% |
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Pittsfield |
35,200 |
-3.0% |
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Springfield |
285,900 |
-2.3% |
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Worcester |
241,300 |
-1.4% |
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