Massachusetts Unemployment Improves to 4.7% in September

BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) released Massachusetts unemployment and job estimates for September, with data indicating 1,200 fewer Massachusetts residents were employed, including individuals in private and nonprofit jobs plus self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs, while payroll jobs decreased by 11,100. Additionally, the unemployment rate (4.7%) and labor force participation rate (66.8%) both decreased. The labor force decreased in September as well by 2,700 for a total of approximately 3,961,000.

October state employment and unemployment news releases will not be published due to the recent federal government shutdown. November unemployment and job estimates have not been scheduled by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Despite a net loss in payroll jobs in September, there was some positive growth in BLS categories, including leisure and hospitality, information, and financial activities. In addition to payroll data, BLS also reports data indicating that 1,200 fewer Massachusetts residents were employed in September and 20,000 more were employed over the year. Unlike payroll data, employed residents data includes individuals who are self-employed (such as contractors, physicians, and drivers) and is not captured in payroll job data.

“The data released today tells us less about what’s happening now and more about what was happening a few months ago,” said Mark Rembert, chief economist for EOLWD’s Department of Economic Research. “The good news is that the key labor market indicators that we do have for October and November have been stable. Seasonally adjusted initial unemployment insurance claims remain relatively flat, and job posting activity has been steady.”