As August drew to a close, Massachusetts small business owners had at least two positive data points to celebrate.
First, the paid maternity leave question that threatened NFIB members was pulled from the 2016 ballot. Although the paid maternity leave question is off the ballot, a paid family leave bill will probably come up in the legislature this fall. Also, the ballot questions on graduated income tax and strict worker scheduling, and other costly small business mandates, remain on course for the November 2016 ballot.
Second, Masschusetts job creation numbers continued to rise last month, as the state’s unemployment numbers ranked well below the national average.
In July, the state’s total unemployment rate remained at 4.7 percent, according to the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is 5.3 percent.
The biggest private sector employment gains came in Professional, Scientific and Business Services; Education and Health Services; Other Services and Construction.
