1. The Pulse of the 495/MetroWest Labor Market Paul E. Harrington Center for Labor Market Studies 315 Holmes Hall Northeastern University 360 Huntington Ave. Boston, MA 02115 Phone: 617.373.2242

2. Unemployment Rates 1st Quart3rd Quart Peak to TroughTrough to Present 200120032004 Absolute Change Relative Change Absolute Change Relative Change United States4.2%6.1%5.6%1.9%45.5%-0.6%-9.1% Massachusetts2.8%5.9%5.1%3.0%106.1%-0.8%-13.1% Payroll Employment From CES (in Thousands) 1st Quart3rd Quart Peak to TroughTrough to Present 200120032004 Absolute Change Relative Change Absolute Change Relative Change United States132,462.30129,819.70131,460.30-2,642.70-2.00%1,640.701.30% Massachusetts3,369.403,180.203,178.60-189.1-5.60%-1.6-0.10% Number Unemployed (in Thousands) 1st Quart3rd Quart Peak to TroughTrough to Present 200120032004 Absolute Change Relative Change Absolute Change Relative Change United States6,068.009,000.008,205.002,932.0048.30%-795-8.80% Massachusetts95.3199.8173.5104.5109.70%-26.3-13.20%

3. Labor Force (in Thousands) 1st Quart3rd Quart Peak to TroughTrough to Present 200120032004 Absolute Change Relative Change Absolute Change Relative Change United States143,771.00146,585.00146,998.002,814.002.00%4130.30% Massachusetts3,349.403,407.403,405.70581.70%-1.70.00% Number of Employed Persons (Household Survey, in Thousands) 1st Quart3rd Quart Peak to TroughTrough to Present 200120032004 Absolute Change Relative Change Absolute Change Relative Change United States137,703.00137,585.00138,793.00-118-0.10%1,208.000.90% Massachusetts3,254.203,207.603,232.30-46.5-1.40%24.60.80%

4. Southern Worcester Workforce Investment AreaQ1:2003Q1:2004 Absolute Change Relative Change Total, All Industries 236,279235,818-461-0.2 21 - Mining 1411733222.4 23 - Construction 9,98810,3793913.9 31-33 - Manufacturing 30,65528,399-2,256-7.4 DUR - Durable Goods Manufacturing 21,04619,253-1,793-8.5 NONDUR - Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing 9,6099,147-462-4.8 22, 42, 48-49 Utilities, Wholesale Trade, Transportation and Warehousing19,47018,947-523-2.7 44-45 - Retail Trade 27,58128,4038223.0 51 - Information 4,5484,301-247-5.4 52 - Finance and Insurance 11,66911,618-51-0.4 53 - Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 2,3662,224-142-6.0 54 - Professional and Technical Services 10,94511,1081631.5 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises 6,0055,758-247-4.1 56 - Administrative and Waste Services 11,24612,3441,0989.8 61 - Educational Services 26,89826,610-288-1.1 62 - Health Care and Social Assistance 37,61537,552-63-0.2 71 - Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 3,2263,144-82-2.6 72 - Accommodation and Food Services 16,28417,0817974.9 81 - Other Services, Ex. Public Admin 8,5368,8613253.8 71, 81 Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, and Other Services, Ex. Public Admin11,76312,0052422.1 92 - Public Administration 8,9208,737-183-2.1

5. Metro South/West Workforce Investment AreaQ1:2003Q1:2004 Absolute Change Relative Change Total, All Industries 500,812494,317-6,495-1.3 21 - Mining 286226-60-20.9 23 - Construction 21,17220,986-186-0.9 31-33 - Manufacturing 63,59659,853-3,743-5.9 DUR - Durable Goods Manufacturing 50,00747,396-2,611-5.2 NONDUR - Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing 13,58912,457-1,132-8.3 22, 42, 48-49 Utilities, Wholesale Trade, Transportation and Warehousing39,57838,298-1,280-3.2 44-45 - Retail Trade 55,22556,0918661.6 51 - Information 24,54423,542-1,002-4.1 52 - Finance and Insurance 21,28321,252-31-0.1 53 - Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 7,3507,183-167-2.3 54 - Professional and Technical Services 54,83455,3355010.9 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises 17,74218,1343922.2 56 - Administrative and Waste Services 23,27322,664-609-2.6 61 - Educational Services 50,95150,360-591-1.2 62 - Health Care and Social Assistance 50,58650,527-59-0.1 72 - Accommodation and Food Services 31,79831,579-219-0.7 71, 81 Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, and Other Services, Ex. Public Admin23,04423,042-20.0 92 - Public Administration 14,85214,663-189-1.3

10. Commonly Found Occupations Don’t employ for this job Decreasing no. of employees No hiring Hiring, but less than last year Hiring about the same as last year Hiring more than last year % Management/Supervisory Level26.11.535.85.223.97.5100 Sales Agents & Representatives30.10.829.33.818.817.3100 Customer Service Representatives35.30.830.83.018.012.0100 Word Processors, Typists & Data Entry Clerks38.60.838.61.512.97.6100 Office Clerks, General29.50.844.73.815.95.3100 Secretaries & Administrative Assistants24.10.836.85.321.112.0100