By Joe Donahue

The Massachusetts workforce is growing faster than in any state in the U.S. So far, the number of people joining the workforce has increased by 3.2 percent in 2017. That means more people are looking for rewarding work, especially in the areas of engineering and scientific and technical services.

While jobs in the information sector only grew by three percent in the last year, the fastest-growing industry was that of professional, scientific and technical services, according to the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. In Massachusetts, this sector experienced job growth of 17.8 percent, showing a high demand for qualified professionals in technical fields. The state also witnessed robust job growth in utilities, construction, hospitals, transportation and warehousing, but the manufacturing sector saw a decline of 4.3 percent in available jobs. Next to utilities, careers in professional, scientific and technical services had the highest median hourly wage, coming in at an average of $39 per hour.

Massachusetts benefits from the most highly educated workforce in the nation, according to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute. In 2016, about 50.2 percent of the labor force in the state held a bachelor's degree or higher. Those workers, who have completed a four-year degree, also earn 99 percent more than those without one, with the median hourly wage for college graduates coming in at $30.11.

Gains from employment in Massachusetts are set to outpace that from most other states, and the employment outlook continues to improve. Residents know that they can get jobs. They are showing up in numbers in the labor force participation rate and letting their skills be put to work for growing companies. The under-utilization rate and the unemployment rate are both falling, with the latter falling sharply since the Great Recession. By the latest estimate, unemployment rests at 4.3 percent for the state of Massachusetts.

While Massachusetts leads the nation in education and health care, the state has also funded infrastructure projects and encouraged economic growth across industries. The need for qualified professionals in engineering and information services is essential to maintaining a strong economy, and manufacturing jobs may also be poised to make a comeback under new and emerging federal policies.

For job seekers, this means that there is lots of opportunity, but the market can still be tricky. The Boston Globe recently reported that it’s extremely difficult for job seekers to know which companies are actually serious about hiring and which are just posting jobs to test the waters. We often hear about applicants who settle for a benefits package worth less that what some top companies are offering.

The best way to get the most out of your job search in the current market is to work with an experienced recruiter. At Micro Tech Staffing Group, we have more than 30 years of experience matching job seekers with career they love. Give one of our recruiters a call today to get your search going.