Department of Labor Logo United States Department of Labor
Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

News Release Information

22-1137-BOS
Tuesday, June 07, 2022

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (617) 565-4141

Business Employment Dynamics in Massachusetts — Third Quarter 2021

From June 2021 to September 2021, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments in Massachusetts were 217,283, while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments were 178,055, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner William J. Sibley noted that the difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment gain of 39,228 jobs in the private sector during the third quarter of 2021. During the previous quarter, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 35,704. (See chart 1.)

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all private businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private-sector establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See Technical Note.)

Gross job gains

In the third quarter of 2021, gross job gains represented 7.2 percent of private-sector employment both nationally and in Massachusetts. (See chart 2.) Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment due to expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. In Massachusetts, gross job gains at expanding establishments totaled 171,694 in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of 11,572 jobs compared to the previous quarter. (See table 1.) Opening establishments accounted for 45,589 jobs gained in the third quarter of 2021, a decrease of 1,559 jobs from the previous quarter.

Gross job losses

In the third quarter of 2021, gross job losses represented 5.9 percent of private-sector employment in Massachusetts; nationally, gross job losses accounted for 6.2 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 3.) Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. In Massachusetts, contracting establishments lost 136,856 jobs in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of 4,682 jobs from the prior quarter. Closing establishments lost 41,199 jobs, an increase of 1,807 jobs from the previous quarter.

Industries

Gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in 8 of the 11 industry sectors in Massachusetts in the third quarter of 2021. Leisure and hospitality had the largest over-the-quarter net job increase, with a gain of 20,927 jobs. This was the result of 50,247 gross job gains and 29,320 gross job losses. The education and health services industry had a net gain of 10,072 jobs. Retail trade showed a net loss of 7,469 jobs, the largest loss of any sector in the state.

For more information

The BED data series include gross job gains and gross job losses by industry subsector, for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, as well as gross job gains and gross job losses at the firm level by employer size class. BED data for the states have been included in table 2 of this release. Additional information is available online at www.bls.gov/bdm/.

The Business Employment Dynamics for Fourth Quarter 2022 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Effect on Business Employment Dynamics

Data collection and processing methods have been impacted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. More detail can be found at www.bls.gov/covid19/effects-of-covid-19-pandemic-on-business-employment-dynamics.htm.


Technical Note

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records. Most employers in the U.S. are required to file quarterly reports on the employment and wages of workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI) laws, and to pay quarterly UI taxes. The QCEW is based largely on quarterly UI reports which are sent by businesses to the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). These UI reports are supplemented by two additional BLS data collections to render administrative data into economic statistics. Together these data comprise the QCEW and form the basis of the Bureau’s establishment universe sampling frame.

In the BED program, the QCEW records are linked across quarters to provide a longitudinal history for each establishment. The linkage process allows the tracking of net employment changes at the establishment level, which in turn allows the estimation of jobs gained at opening and expanding units and jobs lost at closing and contracting units.

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. BED statistics track these changes in employment at private business establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment from expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. The difference between the number of gross jobs gained and the number of gross jobs lost is the net change in employment.

Gross job gains and gross job losses are expressed as rates by dividing their levels by the average of employment in the current and previous quarters. The rates are calculated for the components of gross job gains and gross job losses and then summed to form their respective totals. These rates can be added and subtracted just as their levels can. For instance, the difference between the gross job gains rate and the gross job losses rate is the net growth rate.

The formal definitions of employment changes are as follows:

Openings. These are either units with positive third month employment for the first time in the current quarter, with no links to the prior quarter, or with positive third month employment in the current quarter following zero employment in the previous quarter.

Expansions. These are units with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net increase in employment over this period.

Closings. These are either units with positive third month employment in the previous quarter, with no employment or zero employment reported in the current quarter.

Contractions. These are units with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net decrease in employment over this period.

The full Technical Note for the Business Employment Dynamics program, which includes information on coverage, concepts, and methodology, can be found in the current quarterly news release online at www.bls.gov/news.release/cewbd.htm.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Private sector gross job gains and losses by industry, Massachusetts, seasonally adjusted
CategoryGross job gains and losses
(3 months ended)
Gross job gains and losses
as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Sept.
2020
Dec.
2020
Mar.
2021
June
2021
Sept.
2021
Sept.
2020
Dec.
2020
Mar.
2021
June
2021
Sept.
2021

Total private (1)

Gross job gains

349,742203,528193,648207,270217,28312.47.06.66.97.2

At expanding establishments

276,119162,630155,827160,122171,6949.85.65.35.35.7

At opening establishments

73,62340,89837,82147,14845,5892.61.41.31.61.5

Gross job losses

152,202160,761145,185171,566178,0555.45.55.05.75.9

At contracting establishments

110,135126,099119,984132,174136,8563.94.34.14.44.5

At closing establishments

42,06734,66225,20139,39241,1991.51.20.91.31.4

Net employment change (2)

197,54042,76748,46335,70439,2287.01.51.61.21.3

Construction

Gross job gains

20,68716,99216,51214,52014,06313.810.810.18.88.7

At expanding establishments

16,19713,05112,23011,19010,89510.88.37.56.86.7

At opening establishments

4,4903,9414,2823,3303,1683.02.52.62.02.0

Gross job losses

12,77612,30412,17216,17714,1958.57.87.49.88.8

At contracting establishments

8,8099,2519,99512,50610,1405.95.96.17.66.3

At closing establishments

3,9673,0532,1773,6714,0552.61.91.32.22.5

Net employment change (2)

7,9114,6884,340-1,657-1325.33.02.7-1.0-0.1

Manufacturing

Gross job gains

11,9688,6766,2747,9968,6565.33.82.73.53.7

At expanding establishments

11,1447,7715,7767,0727,9704.93.42.53.13.4

At opening establishments

8249054989246860.40.40.20.40.3

Gross job losses

8,3426,4966,4006,9977,5773.72.82.83.03.3

At contracting establishments

7,2955,7945,7145,9616,2783.22.52.52.62.7

At closing establishments

1,0477026861,0361,2990.50.30.30.40.6

Net employment change (2)

3,6262,180-1269991,0791.61.0-0.10.50.4

Wholesale trade

Gross job gains

8,0746,3945,4546,4147,2947.15.64.75.56.2

At expanding establishments

6,6974,9494,1774,8975,8195.94.33.64.24.9

At opening establishments

1,3771,4451,2771,5171,4751.21.31.11.31.3

Gross job losses

5,7694,9884,3925,7006,3905.14.33.84.85.4

At contracting establishments

4,0453,8533,4533,8974,0283.63.33.03.33.4

At closing establishments

1,7241,1359391,8032,3621.51.00.81.52.0

Net employment change (2)

2,3051,4061,0627149042.01.30.90.70.8

Retail trade

Gross job gains

48,29621,03520,84920,90917,16315.56.46.36.25.2

At expanding establishments

42,14318,64318,63017,91214,50813.55.75.65.34.4

At opening establishments

6,1532,3922,2192,9972,6552.00.70.70.90.8

Gross job losses

13,98116,85916,78918,94724,6324.55.25.15.67.4

At contracting establishments

11,20514,21915,29116,52321,2163.64.44.64.96.4

At closing establishments

2,7762,6401,4982,4243,4160.90.80.50.71.0

Net employment change (2)

34,3154,1764,0601,962-7,46911.01.21.20.6-2.2

Transportation and warehousing

Gross job gains

12,31114,4036,2135,7187,69516.717.87.26.88.9

At expanding establishments

10,29912,2244,6404,6466,34814.015.15.45.57.3

At opening establishments

2,0122,1791,5731,0721,3472.72.71.81.31.6

Gross job losses

8,2484,2047,3965,5064,71411.35.28.66.55.4

At contracting establishments

7,2523,3566,6864,7303,8119.94.27.85.64.4

At closing establishments

9968487107769031.41.00.80.91.0

Net employment change (2)

4,06310,199-1,1832122,9815.412.6-1.40.33.5

Information

Gross job gains

4,4255,0624,6955,8745,5595.15.85.36.45.9

At expanding establishments

3,2883,8233,8354,2804,3963.84.44.34.74.7

At opening establishments

1,1371,2398601,5941,1631.31.41.01.71.2

Gross job losses

4,6513,6203,5844,6724,6985.34.24.05.15.1

At contracting establishments

3,3992,7022,8643,6733,4403.93.13.24.03.7

At closing establishments

1,2529187209991,2581.41.10.81.11.4

Net employment change (2)

-2261,4421,1111,202861-0.21.61.31.30.8

Financial activities

Gross job gains

10,4209,5518,2018,7619,1964.94.53.84.14.3

At expanding establishments

8,4337,2616,6176,7927,0194.03.43.13.23.3

At opening establishments

1,9872,2901,5841,9692,1770.91.10.70.91.0

Gross job losses

8,9619,4966,9609,26810,4804.24.53.34.35.0

At contracting establishments

6,1587,5905,9007,0737,6002.93.62.83.33.6

At closing establishments

2,8031,9061,0602,1952,8801.30.90.51.01.4

Net employment change (2)

1,459551,241-507-1,2840.70.00.5-0.2-0.7

Professional and business services

Gross job gains

45,85545,27337,43940,57844,6928.07.86.46.87.3

At expanding establishments

35,69736,20130,05230,81533,5586.26.25.15.25.5

At opening establishments

10,1589,0727,3879,76311,1341.81.61.31.61.8

Gross job losses

35,46429,23330,31535,27038,1616.25.05.15.96.3

At contracting establishments

25,27621,53724,78226,47226,8854.43.74.24.44.4

At closing establishments

10,1887,6965,5338,79811,2761.81.30.91.51.9

Net employment change (2)

10,39116,0407,1245,3086,5311.82.81.30.91.0

Education and health services

Gross job gains

61,85335,42637,86838,51139,2378.54.85.05.15.1

At expanding establishments

47,93727,30731,04626,45029,2296.63.74.13.53.8

At opening establishments

13,9168,1196,82212,06110,0081.91.10.91.61.3

Gross job losses

26,75830,20324,84534,77529,1653.74.13.44.63.8

At contracting establishments

19,04123,60719,18726,88124,6002.63.22.63.63.2

At closing establishments

7,7176,5965,6587,8944,5651.10.90.81.00.6

Net employment change (2)

35,0955,22313,0233,73610,0724.80.71.60.51.3

Leisure and hospitality

Gross job gains

101,40829,71040,13046,65750,24744.011.615.716.616.4

At expanding establishments

77,87423,10031,24637,55141,36333.89.012.213.413.5

At opening establishments

23,5346,6108,8849,1068,88410.22.63.53.22.9

Gross job losses

19,40434,16124,32925,29729,3208.413.39.49.09.5

At contracting establishments

12,64127,72119,59818,25323,1085.510.87.66.57.5

At closing establishments

6,7636,4404,7317,0446,2122.92.51.82.52.0

Net employment change (2)

82,004-4,45115,80121,36020,92735.6-1.76.37.66.9

Other services (3)

Gross job gains

21,9297,9697,6029,16711,26125.48.68.19.611.3

At expanding establishments

14,5865,7245,8046,7738,85116.96.26.27.18.9

At opening establishments

7,3432,2451,7982,3942,4108.52.41.92.52.4

Gross job losses

6,5047,4116,2847,1347,0377.57.96.67.57.1

At contracting establishments

3,9955,2365,0194,7564,5584.65.65.35.04.6

At closing establishments

2,5092,1751,2652,3782,4792.92.31.32.52.5

Net employment change (2)

15,4255581,3182,0334,22417.90.71.52.14.2

Footnotes:
(1) Includes unclassified sector not shown separately.
(2) The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses. See the Technical Note for further information.
(3) Except public administration.

Table 2. Private-sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of total employment by state, seasonally adjusted
CategoryGross job gains as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Gross job losses as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Sept.
2020
Dec.
2020
Mar.
2021
June
2021
Sept.
2021
Sept.
2020
Dec.
2020
Mar.
2021
June
2021
Sept.
2021

United States(1)

9.57.46.86.77.26.05.75.45.96.2

Alabama

7.87.65.96.26.65.95.55.96.06.7

Alaska

12.213.411.09.510.49.87.79.49.29.5

Arizona

7.87.36.36.86.96.15.05.56.06.0

Arkansas

7.67.25.95.56.65.75.25.15.65.9

California

8.98.57.77.87.87.16.15.96.46.3

Colorado

10.17.58.67.88.16.47.25.66.47.0

Connecticut

11.46.66.36.66.85.15.95.35.96.0

Delaware

10.36.86.86.47.26.46.06.06.47.0

District of Columbia

8.25.35.57.07.95.75.55.35.44.8

Florida

9.58.06.97.89.26.76.05.86.26.0

Georgia

9.37.96.76.97.46.55.25.76.26.2

Hawaii

7.514.78.510.77.212.24.65.95.66.6

Idaho

8.48.78.17.27.76.46.15.77.27.3

Illinois

9.76.57.26.06.35.66.14.95.66.0

Indiana

8.36.86.05.76.35.25.05.16.05.8

Iowa

7.56.86.16.06.25.55.15.46.06.0

Kansas

7.97.06.26.26.65.95.95.56.16.6

Kentucky

9.07.37.36.46.65.16.15.16.56.5

Louisiana

9.18.76.46.86.97.05.65.96.28.6

Maine

12.38.59.07.77.86.06.36.37.88.0

Maryland

11.27.36.36.67.55.55.85.56.66.7

Massachusetts

12.47.06.66.97.25.45.55.05.75.9

Michigan

10.96.78.56.26.64.86.94.95.66.1

Minnesota

9.06.99.26.16.45.46.84.95.56.8

Mississippi

8.78.05.66.47.55.54.96.66.56.2

Missouri

8.57.16.36.06.75.75.25.36.36.1

Montana

9.99.48.88.38.47.26.86.98.18.3

Nebraska

8.26.86.56.26.25.85.56.26.06.6

Nevada

12.98.87.39.58.96.45.75.55.75.8

New Hampshire

11.87.47.47.07.05.36.45.46.46.8

New Jersey

15.78.17.07.27.45.65.95.65.76.1

New Mexico

8.57.38.57.17.96.17.55.76.66.3

New York

13.37.46.97.17.55.96.35.45.76.0

North Carolina

8.77.96.66.46.85.65.05.45.86.4

North Dakota

8.97.27.86.97.56.97.16.56.56.7

Ohio

7.86.66.15.96.15.35.25.05.86.0

Oklahoma

7.17.96.16.57.16.65.86.16.07.0

Oregon

9.07.48.56.67.06.36.55.66.66.5

Pennsylvania

10.36.26.45.66.24.95.34.65.35.3

Rhode Island

13.07.69.87.07.65.37.15.56.46.6

South Carolina

8.88.06.26.37.25.95.26.16.56.6

South Dakota

8.67.27.36.86.65.56.26.05.86.5

Tennessee

8.17.55.65.96.85.54.65.05.85.5

Texas

7.37.65.76.77.16.14.85.05.45.4

Utah

9.18.17.16.97.36.35.66.16.06.8

Vermont

12.97.68.28.47.95.88.06.16.87.5

Virginia

10.47.06.06.26.85.45.35.46.06.1

Washington

8.97.27.96.77.26.36.15.45.85.7

West Virginia

8.97.47.26.56.76.96.25.86.46.5

Wisconsin

7.66.35.85.85.55.15.14.75.45.8

Wyoming

10.810.09.18.88.97.77.78.38.58.6

Puerto Rico

11.16.66.67.78.35.14.95.05.05.1

Virgin Islands

7.89.97.410.67.412.55.810.86.28.5

Footnotes
(1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

 

Last Modified Date: Tuesday, June 07, 2022