Massachusetts’ Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.5% in May

BOSTON – The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) released Massachusetts unemployment and job estimates for May, with preliminary data indicating that payroll jobs decreased by 2,900 for the month, following a revised increase of 7,400 jobs in April.

Massachusetts has added more than 17,600 payroll jobs, including 14,100 private sector jobs, since September. Preliminary data also shows the May unemployment rate dropped to 4.5%, and labor force participation rate decreased slightly to 65.4%.

BLS categories with the strongest growth month-over-month for Massachusetts employment in May include government; education and health services; trade, transportation, and utilities; and information.

“The unemployment rate fell this month to its lowest level since last August,” said Mark Rembert, chief economist with EOLWD’s Department of Economic Research. “At the same time, we continue to see shifts in the labor force as more older workers retire. Combined with elevated job posting activity, these trends suggest the labor market could continue to tighten through the summer.”