Massachusetts Workforce Outlook with MassHire Central
By-Hank Stolz
Photo-Submitted
WORCESTER, MA– Bruce Mendelsohn of MassHire Central joined Talk of the Commonwealth to review how the local job market performed over the past year and what to expect in the year ahead.
Bruce looked back at the projections he made on the show last year. While Massachusetts continued to see activity across major employment sectors, the 2025 unemployment rate climbed to 4.8%, falling short of the more optimistic 3.7% forecast. The higher rate means more job seekers are competing for fewer available roles.
“Companies are still hiring… jobs are still available,” Bruce noted. “But the competition for jobs and for hiring is much more intense.”
Healthcare, manufacturing, and the skilled trades remained stable hiring engines, while life sciences growth cooled compared to previous years.
A major theme of the conversation: AI’s accelerating impact on workforce needs.
“AI is a tool,” Bruce said. “We are not activating Skynet just yet.”
He emphasized that AI adoption is increasing demand for data skills, digital literacy, and human-to-AI collaboration not replacing the workforce but reshaping it.
Looking ahead to 2026, Bruce predicts strong growth in:
• Clean energy and climate tech
• Skilled trades and apprenticeships
• Jobs requiring AI augmentation and problem-solving
The takeaway? Now is the time for job seekers to upskill, adapt, and take advantage of emerging industry pathways.
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