Unemployment Mixed Across Massachusetts, but Down Over Year

BOSTON — Local unemployment rates increased in 16 labor-market areas, decreased in five areas, and remained the same in three areas in the state during the month of May, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. Compared to May 2016, the rates were up in 24 labor market areas.

Thirteen of the 15 areas for which job estimates are published recorded seasonal job gains in May. The largest gains occurred in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Barnstable, Worcester, Framingham, and Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford areas.

From May 2016 to May 2017, 13 of the 15 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the New Bedford, Barnstable, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, and Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury areas.

In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for May was 4.1%.

Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.2% in the month of May. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 2,900-job gain in May and an over-the-year gain of 58,300 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.