Daily News

Unemployment Decreases Across Massachusetts in October

BOSTON — Local unemployment rates decreased in 22 labor market areas, increased in one, and remained the same in another area in the state during the month of October, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. Compared to October 2015, the rates were down in all areas.

Ten of the 14 areas for which job estimates are published recorded seasonal job gains in October, with the largest gains in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Springfield, Worcester, and Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton areas. The Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead and Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury areas had no change in job levels over the month, while seasonal losses occurred in the Barnstable, Pittsfield, and Taunton-Middleborough-Norton areas.

From October 2015 to October 2016, 13 of the 15 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, Taunton-Middleborough-Norton, Leominster-Gardner, and Worcester areas.

In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for October was 2.7%.

Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.3% in the month of October. Across the nation, Massachusetts experienced the largest over-the-year drop in the unemployment rate of any state, down 1.5% from October 2015, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 5,500 job loss in October, and an over-the-year gain of 71,400 jobs.

The unadjusted unemployment rates and job estimates for the labor market areas reflect seasonal fluctuations and therefore may show different levels and trends than the statewide seasonally adjusted estimates.

The estimates for labor force, unemployment rates, and jobs for Massachusetts are based on different statistical methodology specified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.