MassHire Central Reports Resilient Economy, Job Market Trends & 2025 Workforce Prep

Bruce R. Mendelsohn, Resource Development Coordinator, MassHire Central Region Workforce Board, stops by Talk of the Commonwealth to update us on the job market. He tells us the overall economy remains resilient, thanks largely to healthy spending by consumers. From July to September, the economy grew at a 2.8% annual pace and inflation has dropped from a 9.1% peak in June 2022 to 2.6% last month. We see the job market stabilizing at a modest level, with hiring moderate and layoffs uncommonly low. From July 1, 2023 – Sept. 30, 2024, Career Centers in Worcester and Southbridge served 3,704 employer customers. Career Center staff placed more than 1,800 people in jobs at an average hourly wage of $31.40. MassHire Central served more than 500 residents of Emergency Shelters: Orientations to career center services, skills assessments, resume preparation, and job referrals to area employers. Bruce also talked trends for 2025, including AI and how MassHire Central is helping workers prepare.

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