An economic forecast released this week by the New England Economic Partnership shows the 6-state region slowly recovering from the recession. Ross Gittell, vice president of the non-profit group, says the region’s economy will continue to grow at a modest 1.4 percent a year. Among the 6 states, he says Massachusetts and Vermont are improving the most in employment.
“Those are the only two states that have already recovered the jobs, or are very soon to recover the jobs lost in the recession.”
Gittell says New Hampshire, Connecticut and Maine will likely reach pre-recession employment levels in the next few years, but Rhode Island may not gain back jobs until after 2016. He says the region’s most robust industries in the coming years will be business services, leisure and hospitality, and health care, with some potential gains in advanced manufacturing.