Job seekers attend a career fair at Rutgers University.
Credit: Reuters
The state’s unemployment rate has risen above the national jobless average for the first time in more than six years.
Unemployment in Massachusetts dropped to 7.1 percent in November, according to data released by the state on Thursday. However, it wasn’t enough to drop below the national unemployment average of 7 percent for the month.
The Bay State’s jobless rate hasn’t been more than the national average since May 2007.
In October, the state’s jobless rate was 7.2 percent, compared to the national rate of 7.3 percent.
The state’s November jobless rate climbed 0.4 percent from November 2012, when it was 6.4 percent.
Despite the jobless rate increase, the state Office of Labor and Workforce Development said the state added 6,500 jobs in November. That’s down from the 9,400 jobs added in October.
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