Employment Outlook Mainly Positive in May
BOSTON — Local unemployment rates dropped in 17 labor market areas in Massachusetts, remained the same in five areas, and increased in two during the month of May, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. Compared to May 2015, the rates were down in all areas.
The largest gains last month were in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Barnstable, Worcester, Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, and Framingham areas. From May 2015 to May 2016, the largest percentage gains were in the Barnstable, Pittsfield, Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, Worcester, and Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford 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 is 3.8%.
Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.2% for the month of May. The unemployment rate is down 0.7% over the year. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 6,400-job loss in May, which was impacted by a temporary labor dispute, and an over-the-year gain of 53,400 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.
