Massachusetts is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. A majority of its population of 6,593,587 (2009 est.)* reside in Boston, the capital and largest city. It is significant to the history of the United States; Plymouth was the second established English settlement in North America and colonists from England founded the numerous towns in Massachusetts during the early 1600’s. Massachusetts was one of the thirteen colonies that banded together and fought to break free from the British Empire, which led to the American Revolution, eventually coming together to become the independent nation known as the United States of America.
The economy of Massachusetts relied heavily on agriculture, fishing and trading during the period of colonization. Today it is a manufacturing center producing electronic and electric equipment, machinery and equipment, instruments, chemicals, food and food products, fabricated metals, and printing and publishing. Massachusetts is also recognized as being the leader in biotechnology, financial services, and higher education. Each year tourist spots like Boston, Cape Cod, Salem, Plymouth and Berkshires draw visitors which makes tourism an important sector in the economy of Massachusetts. The state’s agricultural outputs include livestock, fruits, tobacco, tree nuts, and berries, particularly cranberry. The Bureau of Economic Analysis has reported the gross state product to be an estimated $365 billion as of 2008.**
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for Massachusetts was at 8.8% as of August 2010.***
| Unemployment Agency | Website | Phone Number | State |
| Division of Unemployment Assistance | Massachusetts Website | 1-800-827-4839 | Massachusetts Unemployment Benefits |
Below is a list of the 50 largest employers in Massachusetts:****
| Employer | City |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | Boston |
| BRIGHAM & WOMEN’S HOSPITAL | Boston |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | Cambridge |
| TECHNICAL FUTURES INC | Canton |
| LABORATORY FOR NUCLEAR SCIENCE | Cambridge |
| MIT-RESEARCH LAB-ELECTRONICS | Cambridge |
| MA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | Cambridge |
| CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL BOSTON | Boston |
| UMASS AMHERST | Amherst |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | Cambridge |
| LIBERTY MUTUAL GROUP INC | Boston |
| ALCATEL-LUCENT | North Andover |
| UMASS MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER | Worcester |
| FIDELITY INVESTMENTS LIFE INS | Boston |
| ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL | New Bedford |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY | Boston |
| NORTH SHORE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL | Salem |
| NSMC-SALEM HOSPITAL | Salem |
| BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MED CTR | Boston |
| BOSTON UNIV SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | Boston |
| DEUTSCHE BANK | Boston |
| EMC CORP | Hopkinton |
| HARTFORD HOSPITAL | Springfield |
| JOHN HANCOCK LIFE INS CO | Boston |
| SHAW GROUP INC | Stoughton |
| NSMC OUTPATIENT MENTAL HLTH | Salem |
| BOSTON MEDICAL CTR | Boston |
| ALLMERICA PROP & CASUALTY CO | Worcester |
| BEVERLY HOSPITAL | Beverly |
| BONNEY AUTOMOTIVE | Somerville |
| FIRST FIDELITY MORTGAGE CO | Framingham |
| GE AVIATION | Lynn |
| GENESIS CONSOLIDATED SVC INC | Burlington |
| MASS MUTUAL FINANCIAL GROUP | Springfield |
| RAYTHEON CO | Bedford |
| SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES INC | Attleboro |
| SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE HEALTH | Holyoke |
| TUFTS DENTAL CLINICS | Boston |
| JOHN HANCOCK FINANCIAL SVC INC | Boston |
| SEACOAST LOCK & SAFE CO INC | Lawrence |
| SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL | South Weymouth |
| STATE STREET CORP | Boston |
| MIT | Lexington |
| BERKSHIRE MEDICAL CTR | Pittsfield |
| BOSTON POLICE DEPT | Roxbury Crossing |
| HANOVER INSURANCE CO | Worcester |
| HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT PUBG | Boston |
| KRONOS INC | Chelmsford |
| MERCY MEDICAL CTR | Springfield |
| SEACOAST LOCK & SAFE CO | Salem |
Sources:
* http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25000.html
** http://www.bea.gov/regional/gsp/action.cfm
*** http://data.bls.gov:8080/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet;jsessionid=62302a9f3cde6e656431
**** http://www.acinet.org/acinet/oview6.asp?soccode=&stfips=25&from=State&id=11&nodeid=12