Press Releases on the Massachusetts Economy

The past six weeks of Massachusetts unemployment claims total 24.0 percent of civilian workforce

The U.S. Department of Labor released its weekly report on jobless claims this morning at 8:30 a.m., reporting that Massachusetts received 70,714 initial unemployment insurance (UI) claims during the week ended April 25. This brings the total of unemployment claims filed in Massachusetts since March 14, the beginning of the unemployment surge, to 725,018.

April 30, 2020/by Greg Sullivan

Report Finds “Reopening Day” in the Commonwealth Will Likely Include Phasing in Businesses and Contact Tracing

New study compares the reopening of three European countries – Austria, Denmark, and Germany – to highlight approaches that could inform the Commonwealth’s reopening strategy.

April 30, 2020/by Editorial Staff

New jobless claims data shows that Massachusetts unemployment has grown from 2.8% to at least 20.4% in five weeks

Based on today’s jobless claims report, Pioneer Institute projects that the current unemployment rate in Massachusetts is at least 20.4 percent, with a minimum of 762,299 currently unemployed individuals.

April 23, 2020/by Greg Sullivan

Hospitality, Retail Trade, Healthcare Among ‘Most Vulnerable Industries’ in Terms of Unemployment due to COVID-19

Recent data provided by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development show that hospitality, retail trade, healthcare and social assistance, and construction are the industries that have suffered the most unemployment as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, according to the new Pioneer Institute report, “A Look at the Massachusetts Industries that are Most Vulnerable Due to COVID-19.”

April 20, 2020/by Editorial Staff

Which industry’s workforce has been hurt the most from the COVID-19 outbreak?

Unemployment claims have reached all-time highs in the U.S. recently…

April 15, 2020/by Andrew Mikula

State Ranking: Michigan, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Nevada have been hardest-hit by COVID-19 jobless claims so far. Massachusetts ranks as 9th hardest-hit.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported today that in the week ended April 4, the advance number of seasonally-adjusted initial jobless claims was 6,606,000. This follows 6,867,000 initial claims filed in the week ended March 28 and 3,307,000 in the week ended March 21.

April 9, 2020/by Greg Sullivan

Report: MA Likely to See Sharp Spike in Unemployment Rate

The COVID-19 recession could cause Massachusetts’ unemployment rate to skyrocket to 25.4 percent by this June, according to a new policy brief published by Pioneer Institute. The authors recommend that the state join others in lobbying Congress for large block grants to avoid a severe fiscal crisis.

April 8, 2020/by Editorial Staff

Pioneer Launches Report Series Highlighting Massachusetts Job Growth and Business Trends Since 1998

In “Some Big, Broad Economic Trends in Massachusetts,” Pioneer analysis of two decades of data shows fluctuating employment changes across the state, as well as firm size information and the largest employers. The report is part one of aa series that aims to provide deeper insight into COVID-19's economic impact.

April 1, 2020/by Editorial Staff

COVID-19 Roundup from Pioneer: When will COVID-19 peak in MA?; Life in the aftermath; Tracking potential treatments; Getting America working again; Taking virtual learning to new heights & more!

Pioneer staff (and readers) share their top picks for COVID-19 stories highlighting useful resources, best practices, and questions we should be asking our public and private sector leaders.

March 31, 2020/by Editorial Staff

New Policy Brief on Federal Relief Act’s Impact on Massachusetts

Greg Sullivan and Charlie Chieppo review the impact of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act on Massachusetts' budget.

March 30, 2020/by Editorial Staff

Congress should fix aid, provide block grants

This op-ed by Greg Sullivan and Charlie Chieppo appeared in the…

March 27, 2020/by Greg Sullivan

Public Statement: Extend Massachusetts’ Income Tax Filing Deadline

Massachusetts must extend the tax filing deadline, just as the federal government and 34 of the 41 states that tax income have done.

March 26, 2020/by Editorial Staff

Why Are We So Scared And Impatient?

This op-ed by Barbara Anthony appeared in WGBH News on March…

March 26, 2020/by Barbara Anthony

Pioneer Report Offers Framework for Improving Greater Boston’s Global Competitiveness

Pioneer’s new report, Greater Boston as a Global Competitor, provides useful metrics to help Massachusetts formulate a strategy to become an even more attractive place for innovators and talent.

February 12, 2020/by Editorial Staff

In the past few years, the tobacco industry has thrived in Massachusetts. Here’s why.

Despite recent good news about declines in alcohol, traditional…

February 11, 2020/by Andrew Mikula

Pioneer Institute Announces New Economics Data Tool: MassEconomix

A new addition to Pioneer Institute’s Mass Watch data tool suite, MassEconomix, provides time-series data on job and business growth for all of Massachusetts. Pioneer has partnered with the Business Dynamics Research Consortium (BDRC), which is housed at the University of Wisconsin’s Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship, to acquire an employment database known as “Your-economy Time Series”, or YTS. This database provides a year-by-year look at companies and jobs that have existed in the Commonwealth since 1997.

December 12, 2019/by Editorial Staff

Pioneer Urges MassDOT to Reconsider At-Grade Throat Option for I-90 Allston Multimodal Project

Pioneer's new Public Comment calls on the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to revise its Scoping Report on the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project and recommend an additional option to the Federal Highway Administration.

December 10, 2019/by Editorial Staff

New Study: Excessive Occupational Licensing Hurts State Economy, Reduces Tax Revenue

Overly burdensome occupational licensing requirements not only slow down the Massachusetts economy and cost the state tens of thousands of jobs, but also reduce state and local tax revenue, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute

November 13, 2019/by Editorial Staff

Study Proposes “Marshall Plan” for Attracting and Retaining Talent Needed to Modernize the MBTA

Better hiring practices and internal organization, external resources…

October 7, 2019/by Editorial Staff

Study Calls for Easing MBTA Procurement Restrictions and Beefing Up Project Management Capacity

Reforms needed if T is to achieve increased capital spending…

August 6, 2019/by Editorial Staff

MassAnalysis: Drawing data-based comparisons between cities and towns

Massachusetts has 351 cities and towns—a constellation of communities…

June 18, 2019/by Eamon McCarthy Earls