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News Release Information

25-1251-BOS
Wednesday, August 06, 2025

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (646) 264-3600

Business Employment Dynamics in Massachusetts — Fourth Quarter 2024

From September 2024 to December 2024, gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments in Massachusetts were 175,796, while gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments were 169,582, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Acting Regional Commissioner Mark J. Maggi noted that the difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment loss of 6,214 jobs in the private sector during the fourth quarter of 2024. (See table 1.) During the previous quarter, gross job losses exceeded gross job gains by 28,093. (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 the Business Employment Dynamics Technical Note.)

Gross job losses

In the fourth quarter of 2024, gross job losses represented 5.6 percent of private-sector employment in Massachusetts; nationally, gross job losses accounted for 5.7 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 2.) 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 142,380 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of 4,200 jobs from the prior quarter. Closing establishments lost 33,416 jobs, a decrease of 4,592 jobs from the previous quarter.

Gross job gains

In the fourth quarter of 2024, gross job gains represented 5.3 percent of private-sector employment in Massachusetts; nationally, gross job gains accounted for 5.8 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 3.) 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 134,116 in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 7,804 jobs compared to the previous quarter. Opening establishments accounted for 35,466 jobs gained in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 5,283 jobs from the previous quarter.

Industries

Gross job losses exceeded gross job gains in 6 of the 11 published industry sectors in Massachusetts in the fourth quarter of 2024. Retail trade had the largest over-the-quarter net job decrease, with a loss of 6,891 jobs. This was the result of 20,977 gross job losses and 14,086 gross job gains. The professional and business services industry had a net loss of 5,636 jobs. Leisure and hospitality showed a net gain of 3,773 jobs, the largest gain of any sector in the state. Massachusetts’s transportation and warehousing industry sector had a net gain of 2,416 jobs.

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 the Business Employment Dynamics homepage and the Business Employment Dynamics Summary.

The Business Employment Dynamics for First Quarter 2025 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Revisions to Business Employment Dynamics (BED) Data

The release of First Quarter 2025 Business Employment Dynamics data, scheduled for October 29, 2025, will incorporate annual revisions in accordance with standard procedures. The revisions will include the previous four quarters of not seasonally adjusted data and five years of seasonally adjusted data.


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.

More information on formal definitions of the data used in this release, along with coverage, concepts, and methodology, can be found in the Business Employment Dynamics Technical Note.

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)
Dec.
2023
Mar.
2024
June
2024
Sept.
2024
Dec.
2024
Dec.
2023
Mar.
2024
June
2024
Sept.
2024
Dec.
2024

Total private (1)

Gross job gains

172,906168,574180,080156,495169,5825.55.25.74.95.3

At expanding establishments

136,039138,694148,901126,312134,1164.34.34.74.04.2

At opening establishments

36,86729,88031,17930,18335,4661.20.91.00.91.1

Gross job losses

176,465162,277179,585184,588175,7965.55.15.65.85.6

At contracting establishments

145,051130,359138,680146,580142,3804.54.14.34.64.5

At closing establishments

31,41431,91840,90538,00833,4161.01.01.31.21.1

Net employment change (2)

-3,5596,297495-28,093-6,2140.00.10.1-0.9-0.3

Construction

Gross job gains

13,53513,76312,54310,91014,4388.07.87.36.68.7

At expanding establishments

10,34611,06310,1648,59211,1026.16.35.95.26.7

At opening establishments

3,1892,7002,3792,3183,3361.91.51.41.42.0

Gross job losses

14,41011,84015,93814,77113,3558.46.79.28.98.0

At contracting establishments

11,6519,52912,08511,30410,3206.85.47.06.86.2

At closing establishments

2,7592,3113,8533,4673,0351.61.32.22.11.8

Net employment change (2)

-8751,923-3,395-3,8611,083-0.41.1-1.9-2.30.7

Manufacturing

Gross job gains

6,1365,3906,7356,2926,1462.62.32.92.72.7

At expanding establishments

5,2624,9605,7875,1905,2692.22.12.52.22.3

At opening establishments

8744309481,1028770.40.20.40.50.4

Gross job losses

7,7257,5687,7657,6187,3463.33.23.33.33.2

At contracting establishments

6,8936,7986,7826,6996,3852.92.92.92.92.8

At closing establishments

8327709839199610.40.30.40.40.4

Net employment change (2)

-1,589-2,178-1,030-1,326-1,200-0.7-0.9-0.4-0.6-0.5

Wholesale trade

Gross job gains

4,5624,8715,2934,5944,6513.74.04.33.83.9

At expanding establishments

3,5843,9234,2633,5073,6592.93.23.52.93.1

At opening establishments

9789481,0301,0879920.80.80.80.90.8

Gross job losses

5,5855,0436,5135,2015,9004.54.15.44.35.0

At contracting establishments

4,1773,9084,4973,8854,7523.43.23.73.24.0

At closing establishments

1,4081,1352,0161,3161,1481.10.91.71.11.0

Net employment change (2)

-1,023-172-1,220-607-1,249-0.8-0.1-1.1-0.5-1.1

Retail trade

Gross job gains

16,85618,25618,54814,81114,0865.25.65.64.44.3

At expanding establishments

14,35416,43416,22913,01412,4724.45.04.93.93.8

At opening establishments

2,5021,8222,3191,7971,6140.80.60.70.50.5

Gross job losses

18,08615,68819,34417,78420,9775.54.85.95.36.4

At contracting establishments

15,37913,67016,77915,64418,5894.74.25.14.75.7

At closing establishments

2,7072,0182,5652,1402,3880.80.60.80.60.7

Net employment change (2)

-1,2302,568-796-2,973-6,891-0.30.8-0.3-0.9-2.1

Transportation and warehousing

Gross job gains

7,4964,3605,9184,7777,4557.84.66.25.07.6

At expanding establishments

6,0363,5305,1924,0096,2956.33.75.44.26.4

At opening establishments

1,4608307267681,1601.50.90.80.81.2

Gross job losses

5,1346,0235,2404,5965,0395.46.25.54.85.1

At contracting establishments

4,1155,2133,6923,7124,2154.35.43.93.94.3

At closing establishments

1,0198101,5488848241.10.81.60.90.8

Net employment change (2)

2,362-1,6636781812,4162.4-1.60.70.22.5

Information

Gross job gains

3,2963,7883,8344,3343,4823.54.14.14.73.8

At expanding establishments

2,4302,9703,0273,5702,6222.63.23.23.92.9

At opening establishments

8668188077648600.90.90.90.80.9

Gross job losses

5,3264,2405,0745,3464,9145.74.55.45.85.4

At contracting establishments

4,5073,4493,6554,0173,9714.83.73.94.44.4

At closing establishments

8197911,4191,3299430.90.81.51.41.0

Net employment change (2)

-2,030-452-1,240-1,012-1,432-2.2-0.4-1.3-1.1-1.6

Financial activities

Gross job gains

7,7976,4308,1017,2017,4553.63.03.83.33.5

At expanding establishments

5,8555,2026,6665,8795,7862.72.43.12.72.7

At opening establishments

1,9421,2281,4351,3221,6690.90.60.70.60.8

Gross job losses

8,2158,0738,1989,6157,6113.83.63.74.43.6

At contracting establishments

6,7076,6605,7447,4355,7793.13.02.63.42.7

At closing establishments

1,5081,4132,4542,1801,8320.70.61.11.00.9

Net employment change (2)

-418-1,643-97-2,414-156-0.2-0.60.1-1.1-0.1

Professional and business services

Gross job gains

32,78733,37736,11830,95532,6465.25.35.74.95.2

At expanding establishments

25,21926,50229,63424,12424,8694.04.24.73.84.0

At opening establishments

7,5686,8756,4846,8317,7771.21.11.01.11.2

Gross job losses

38,30234,57835,31738,14738,2826.15.65.66.16.1

At contracting establishments

30,76627,98326,59029,58830,1164.94.54.24.74.8

At closing establishments

7,5366,5958,7278,5598,1661.21.11.41.41.3

Net employment change (2)

-5,515-1,201801-7,192-5,636-0.9-0.30.1-1.2-0.9

Education and health services

Gross job gains

28,70434,53734,16834,82431,1243.64.34.24.43.9

At expanding establishments

24,00830,47628,99129,52725,5403.03.83.63.73.2

At opening establishments

4,6964,0615,1775,2975,5840.60.50.60.70.7

Gross job losses

32,32425,00730,18029,66229,1394.03.13.73.73.6

At contracting establishments

26,56218,66824,19423,13322,9813.32.33.02.92.8

At closing establishments

5,7626,3395,9866,5296,1580.70.80.70.80.8

Net employment change (2)

-3,6209,5303,9885,1621,985-0.41.20.50.70.3

Leisure and hospitality

Gross job gains

41,31734,04337,69029,12538,02311.49.310.38.010.5

At expanding establishments

31,09425,96530,01222,49128,9118.67.18.26.28.0

At opening establishments

10,2238,0787,6786,6349,1122.82.22.11.82.5

Gross job losses

32,57435,08635,79040,53334,2509.19.59.811.19.4

At contracting establishments

27,56627,64827,36132,39628,3777.77.57.58.97.8

At closing establishments

5,0087,4388,4298,1375,8731.42.02.32.21.6

Net employment change (2)

8,743-1,0431,900-11,4083,7732.3-0.20.5-3.11.1

Other services (3)

Gross job gains

8,2777,9059,1256,5778,0697.57.18.26.07.3

At expanding establishments

6,1686,3267,3565,0386,0635.65.76.64.65.5

At opening establishments

2,1091,5791,7691,5392,0061.91.41.61.41.8

Gross job losses

6,8897,6497,7129,3347,0446.36.96.98.56.4

At contracting establishments

5,2995,6255,4437,2725,3854.85.14.96.64.9

At closing establishments

1,5902,0242,2692,0621,6591.51.82.01.91.5

Net employment change (2)

1,3882561,413-2,7571,0251.20.21.3-2.50.9

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)
Dec.
2023
Mar.
2024
June
2024
Sept.
2024
Dec.
2024
Dec.
2023
Mar.
2024
June
2024
Sept.
2024
Dec.
2024

United States(1)

6.05.75.85.85.85.75.45.95.85.7

Alabama

6.25.75.65.75.75.75.55.65.95.3

Alaska

10.210.510.27.910.39.98.69.69.79.6

Arizona

6.58.45.66.36.16.66.46.86.56.0

Arkansas

6.25.65.25.25.85.05.25.85.24.8

California

6.45.86.16.46.66.45.66.86.16.4

Colorado

8.26.46.56.36.17.67.76.26.76.7

Connecticut

5.65.65.85.55.55.75.25.65.75.6

Delaware

6.16.05.96.86.15.85.16.56.46.4

District of Columbia

5.25.15.14.95.05.64.96.05.05.5

Florida

6.15.86.06.66.05.95.45.95.76.2

Georgia

6.26.05.75.76.05.75.75.76.15.4

Hawaii

6.15.45.15.65.35.05.15.45.04.9

Idaho

8.57.97.57.28.25.88.37.47.66.8

Illinois

5.05.15.25.05.15.14.85.35.15.2

Indiana

5.55.35.25.35.45.15.05.55.45.2

Iowa

6.16.15.55.25.55.75.65.76.05.6

Kansas

5.85.75.85.35.95.35.65.75.65.2

Kentucky

5.75.75.25.45.35.25.05.95.55.5

Louisiana

6.36.25.76.16.25.85.76.35.85.4

Maine

7.47.27.36.26.77.06.17.07.07.0

Maryland

6.25.87.26.16.05.85.76.56.15.9

Massachusetts

5.55.25.74.95.35.55.15.65.85.6

Michigan

5.55.45.75.45.45.55.25.65.86.0

Minnesota

6.95.85.75.15.56.95.75.45.95.1

Mississippi

6.15.75.86.16.35.76.16.35.76.4

Missouri

6.05.75.65.55.75.65.35.85.85.3

Montana

8.88.17.97.38.47.27.57.68.17.8

Nebraska

5.95.85.45.65.65.75.15.65.65.5

Nevada

6.75.95.86.16.25.46.25.75.95.8

New Hampshire

6.26.56.15.56.35.95.86.06.75.9

New Jersey

5.95.55.95.36.05.85.45.45.85.3

New Mexico

6.96.06.06.25.85.86.06.36.35.9

New York

5.75.95.95.65.65.65.05.55.75.5

North Carolina

6.35.45.65.66.14.95.55.76.15.5

North Dakota

6.76.96.66.56.56.36.16.66.66.7

Ohio

5.45.55.25.15.45.24.85.45.45.1

Oklahoma

6.15.65.66.05.95.85.26.45.65.4

Oregon

6.26.46.06.36.26.26.16.46.66.8

Pennsylvania

5.25.14.95.15.24.84.65.15.14.8

Rhode Island

6.86.96.66.27.26.35.76.76.56.3

South Carolina

6.26.45.96.26.55.36.36.45.96.0

South Dakota

6.66.36.05.96.75.85.86.35.95.9

Tennessee

6.25.55.55.65.65.54.95.75.85.0

Texas

5.75.45.45.65.85.25.15.35.35.1

Utah

6.66.76.46.66.66.56.06.66.16.2

Vermont

7.37.26.66.66.76.66.37.57.36.8

Virginia

5.95.75.75.85.85.55.25.65.55.5

Washington

6.05.75.75.75.75.45.35.35.45.3

West Virginia

6.56.96.65.86.45.85.76.86.66.1

Wisconsin

5.55.55.35.05.35.24.85.55.45.0

Wyoming

8.98.48.28.68.88.48.39.09.08.4

Puerto Rico

4.95.45.65.44.44.84.64.95.15.5

Virgin Islands

6.05.64.34.44.05.94.55.16.112.6

Footnotes
(1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. The sum of the states will not necessarily add to the U.S. total because of the independent seasonal adjustment of each state.

 

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, August 06, 2025