Unemployment Drops Across Massachusetts in July
BOSTON — Local unemployment rates dropped in 21 labor-market areas, remained the same in two, and increased in one area in the state during the month of July, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. Compared to July 2015, the rates were down in all areas.
Two of the 15 areas for which job estimates are published recorded seasonal job gains in July, with gains in the Barnstable and Pittsfield areas. Seasonal losses occurred in the remaining 13 areas.
From July 2015 to July 2016, all 15 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, Taunton-Middleborough-Norton, Peabody-Salem-Beverly, 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 July was 4.0%. Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.1% for the month of July. The unemployment rate is down 0.7% over the year.
The statewide, seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 7,300-job gain in July and an over-the-year gain of 65,500 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.
