THE PIONEER BLOG

Eileen McAnneny

Massachusetts Job Market Bears Watching

/in , , , , /by Eileen McAnneny

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent national jobs report made headlines because it indicated the US economy added just 12,000 jobs in October, falling far short of the expected 112,500-job gain. While the number is preliminary and could be revised, it got me wondering about how the Massachusetts job outlook stacks up in comparison. The state’s economic growth hinges on its employment outlook because the state’s talented workforce tops the list of our competitive advantages, fueling past economic growth.  Massachusetts talent justifies our high average weekly wage, contributes to the wealth of the Commonwealth and is the backbone of our innovation economy.  Like federal data, recent state data show there may be some cracks in the armor. The following […]

Eileen McAnneny

McAnneny October Monthly Musings – Ballot Initiatives

/in , , , , , /by Eileen McAnneny

Election season is upon us.  In a few short weeks, voters will go to the polls and vote for our next president and a slate of local officials.  They will also decide on five ballot initiatives.  It got me thinking about the whole ballot initiative process, why it is necessary, how you get a question on the ballot and what kind of impact ballot initiatives have on the legal and regulatory landscape in the Commonwealth. Below is a summary of the five questions that will appear on the ballot on November 5th.  But first, I wanted to provide you with an overview of the ballot initiative process, significant laws that have been passed using this process and why it has […]

Eileen McAnneny

Is Massachusetts at a Turning Point – 10 Data Points That Give Me Pause

/in , , , /by Eileen McAnneny

Massachusetts tops the charts in many studies.  Best public education system, great quality of life and its highly educated population come to mind.  More recently, there have been several statistics that may provide early warnings that the Bay State may be facing some headwinds.  Any one of these stats by itself is not cause for alarm. Rather, it is the totality of them that is a red flag for me.  The following data points bear watching and indicate the need to adopt new economic growth strategies.   1. The legislature’s languid approach to economic development, as evidenced by the delay in passing an economic development bill, indicates to investors, entrepreneurs and others considering Massachusetts as a business situs that economic vitality […]

Eileen McAnneny

Wrap Up of the Massachusetts Legislative Session – Or Is It??

/in , , , , , /by Eileen McAnneny

The Massachusetts Legislature meets for two years beginning in January after an election year and continuing until the last day of July of the following year. The 193rd session of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as this legislative session is more formally known, ended its formal sessions for the year last week, but the 40 Senators and 160 Representatives hitting the campaign trail this summer will not have a lot of legislative accomplishments to highlight for their constituents. That is because several pending legislative initiatives, touching on everything from the state’s economic development plan to the phase out of natural gas and the scrutiny of drug prices, are in limbo. Governor Healey has urged the legislature to […]

Dana DiChiro

Average Weekly Wages of Healthcare Workers Across a Decade

/in , , , , , /by Dana DiChiro

From 2012-22 the healthcare and social assistance sector has seen the smallest growth in average weekly wages of any large industry in Massachusetts. This potentially has dire consequences on the employment crisis that this industry already faces.

Raif Boit

Tracking Dunkin Prices Across Boston

/in , /by Raif Boit

While Dunkin is a staple of daily life for many people in Boston, its prices across locations are not necessarily consistent. Factors such as the level of foot traffic may cause prices to be higher or lower at different locations. So, where is the best bargain?

Raif Boit

Massachusetts’s Debt and Liability in 2023

/in , , , /by Raif Boit

In the last decade, Massachusetts has accrued billions of dollars in debt. However, despite a large amount of debt, both overall and per capita, the state’s debt as a percentage of GDP is normal amongst its neighbors.

Andrew Mikula

What’s Included in Massachusetts’ $5.2 Billion Housing Bond Bill?

/in , , , , , /by Andrew Mikula

On August 1, 2024, the Massachusetts state legislature finalized and passed a $5.2 billion housing bond bill meant to address a dire shortage of affordable homes. Governor Maura Healey has until August 11 to sign the bill into law, and she will almost certainly do so after naming housing costs “our highest priority as an administration” earlier this year.  The biggest budget item in the bond bill, a full $2 billion, will fund the upkeep, renovation, and redevelopment of locally-owned public housing. In recent years, local officials and housing advocacy groups have raised the alarm over neglected maintenance and safety hazards in these buildings, which house more than 70,000 people statewide. Most units in the state’s public housing inventory are […]

Raif Boit

 The Largest Groups Driving Massachusetts’s Migration

/in , , , , /by Raif Boit

With Massachusetts losing billions in taxable income every year due to out-of-state migration, it is important to understand the demographics causing the biggest losses.

Raif Boit

Highest Paid State Employees in Massachusetts

/in , /by Raif Boit

Every year, Massachusetts spends billions on payroll. With some departments spending significantly more and some employees receiving salaries multiple times their peers’, it is important to understand where this money is going.

Matt Mulvey

Understanding the Trends in Massachusetts’ Sin Tax Revenues

/in , /by Matt Mulvey

Sin Taxes, which are taxes on goods and services that are considered harmful or immoral, have brought in a significant amount of revenue for Massachusetts.

Raif Boit

Increasing Number of Retirees Driving Pension Expenditures

/in , , , /by Raif Boit

Pension expenditures in the two largest public pension systems are on the rise in Massachusetts, so it’s important to understand the factors behind the growth in annual payouts, including an increasing average pension and an increasing number of retirees.

Matt Mulvey

Where Does Massachusetts’ Pension Money Go?

/in , /by Matt Mulvey

Billions of dollars went to retirees in 2023 from the state’s two largest pension funds. Not unexpectedly, the data show that the amount of money given to a specific retiree may depend on many factors outside of where the retiree used to work.

Eileen McAnneny

Massachusetts Affordability and Competitiveness Ranking is in Freefall

/in , , , , /by Eileen McAnneny

Each year, CNBC ranks the 50 states on 10 broad categories of competitiveness using 128 metrics.  The categories are weighted based on how frequently states use them as a selling point in economic development and marketing materials.  In other words, states are judged on the attributes they use to sell themselves.  For example, Massachusetts most likely touts its talented workforce, public education system and quality of life as key attributes. 2024 Category Ranking  Weight MA 2024 Ranking  2023 Category Ranking Weight MA 2023 Ranking  Drop in Places 1 Infrastructure 17% 44 Workforce 16% 34 31 2 Workforce 15% 38 Infrastructure 15.60% 13 4 3 Economy 14% 40 Economy 14.40% 26 14 4 Quality of Life 13% 9 Life, Health, Inclusion […]

Dana DiChiro

Average Weekly Wage Change for two Massachusetts Counties with Differing Densities

/in , , /by Dana DiChiro

Each industry in a county varies differently in wage growth and decline. This blog analyzes how wages changed in major industries for the most urban and most rural economy in Massachusetts.