Mass. unemployment rises to 7.2 percent

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Unemployment went up to 7.2 percent in Massachusetts in July.

Preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the state added 300 jobs in July and the unemployment rate went up from 7 percent in June. Private employers added 2,500 jobs in July. Estimates show that 250,300 Mass. residents were unemployed.

The national unemployment rate stands at 7.4 percent.

An earlier estimate in Mass. showed that 2,800 jobs were added in June 2013, but the BLS reports that 2,100 jobs were actually lost that month.

Year-to-year unemployment has gone up from 6.8 percent in July 2012.

Cox Media Group