215k Massachusetts Jobs Remain 'Missing' Post-Pandemic

Massachusetts' economic boom of the 2010s has come to an abrupt halt post-pandemic, according to a new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The state's job growth, which outpaced its New England peers and the rest of the country from 2009 to 2020, has stalled with a staggering 'missing jobs' figure of 215,000. This number accounts for two-thirds of all new jobs created during that period, which were primarily in the construction, healthcare, and professional services industries.

The study found that these three sectors drove Massachusetts' economic growth throughout the decade. However, since the pandemic hit, many employers have been slow to bring workers back to the office five days a week, with some notable exceptions such as the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston itself.