David Lyons – a labor market consultant with the state – says we had the usual seasonal job gains in retail and hospitality and job losses in construction. 

"That’s normal however the construction industry is showing a pattern of lower jobs when compared to a year ago and that’s something that we have not seen in 13 years so construction is starting to show the downturn in the housing market overall."

Meantime, the state's unemployment rate inched up to 4.8% from November's 4.6%. Education and health service sectors posted the biggest job gains while manufacturing and the leisure and hospitality sectors lost jobs.