THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 Page 19 Massachusetts Unemployment & Job Estimates for August B OSTON, MA – The state’s August total unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point at 5.0 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts gained 2,600 jobs in August. This follows last month’s revised gain of 41,600 jobs. The largest over the month private sector job gains were in Construction and Other Services. Since December 2020, Massachusetts has gained 147,200 jobs. From August 2020 to August 2021, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 184,700 jobs. Gains occurred in all sectors, except for Government, led by Leisure and Hospitality; Professional, Scientific, and Business Services; and Trade, Transportation and Utilities. AG HEALEY | FROM PAGE 10 centuries ago “varied substantially between and within the States—the result of accountable policymakers enacting regulatory schemes tailored to local needs and conditions.” A one-size-fits-all approach to regulating public carry would take away the ability of state and local officials to address the particular public safety needs of their residents. Under Massachusetts law, individuals are required to have a license to carry a firearm in order to carry a firearm in public. Massachusetts police chiefs have the authority to issue firearm licenses based on the suitability of the applicant to carry a firearm. Police chiefs also have discretion to set conditions on firearms licenses, including restrictions around the licensee’s ability to carry a firearm outside of the home. Massachusetts has among the strongest gun laws in the country, and as a result, among the lowest rates of gun-related deaths. Research has shown that states with more stringent restrictions on public carry have “significantly lower rates of gun-related homicides and other violent crimes.” Joining Healey in filing the brief are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The August unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage point below the national rate of 5.2 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The labor force increased by 7,900 from 3,701,600 in July, as 2,900 more residents were employed and 5,000 more residents were unemployed over MASSACHUSETTS | SEE PAGE 20
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