Massachusetts Unemployment Rate Holds Steady in July

BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) released Massachusetts unemployment and job estimates for July, with preliminary data indicating 2,700 more Massachusetts residents gained employment, which includes individuals in private and nonprofit jobs plus self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs, while payroll jobs decreased by 600.

Additionally, while more individuals entered the Massachusetts labor force in July, the labor force participation rate and unemployment rate remained unchanged. Preliminary data is based on survey data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Despite a net loss in payroll jobs this month, there was positive growth in some BLS categories, including education and health services, construction, and other services.

In addition to payroll data, BLS also reported preliminary data indicating that 2,700 more Massachusetts residents were employed in July for a total 3,959,400; employed residents data includes individuals who are self-employed (such as contractors, physicians, and drivers) and is not captured in payroll job data.

“As Massachusetts and the country navigates these uncertain economic times, it is encouraging to see stability in our state’s unemployment rate combined with some job growth in a few industries, based on preliminary data,” Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones said. “Unemployment and jobs data help to shape workforce policy and planning, especially as the Healey-Driscoll administration and our partners collaborate through intentional strategies to connect more unemployed and underemployed job seekers to career opportunities expressed by employers eager to attract Massachusetts’ untapped talent.”

Added Mark Rembert, chief economist in EOLWD’s Department of Economic Research, “the labor market data for July showed mixed signals, but the underlying narrative points to gradual slowdown in the labor market. On one hand, fewer residents filed for unemployment benefits in July. On the other, the data suggests that it is taking longer for those looking for work to land a new position. However, the healthcare and social assistance and construction sectors are bright spots, together adding more than 10,000 jobs over the past three months.”