Mass. unemployment rate unchanged, but jobs lost

BOSTON (AP) -- The unemployment rate in Massachusetts held steady in April while preliminary estimates showed the state lost 1,400 jobs during the month, according to state and federal data released Thursday.

The jobless rate was 6.4 percent in April, the same as in March, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development said. The rate dropped .02 percent in the last 12 months.

The preliminary estimate showing a loss of 1,400 jobs in April came from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, which relies on a different survey than the one the state uses for determining the jobless rate.

The federal agency also revised its initial jobs estimate for March, reporting that Massachusetts lost 3,800 jobs during the month, not the 5,500 originally reported.

The state has gained 12,900 jobs since the start of 2013 and 46,200 jobs over the past 12 months, according to the most recent federal data.

The Massachusetts labor force increased by 2,500 last month, with 2,900 additional residents employed and 500 fewer unemployed, the state reported. The April estimates showed a total estimated labor force of nearly 3.8 million, with about 223,000 out of work.

Among individual sectors of the economy, professional, scientific and business services showed a gain of 4,500 jobs, or nearly 1 percent in April.

Construction, manufacturing and financial activities were among the sectors that reported job losses during the month.