Unemployment Continues to Fall Across Massachusetts
BOSTON — Local unemployment rates dropped in 22 labor-market areas and increased in two areas in the state during the month of September, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. Compared to September 2015, the rates were down in all areas.
Eight of the 15 areas for which job estimates are published recorded seasonal job gains in September, with gains in the Springfield, Worcester, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Taunton-Middleborough-Norton, Leominster-Gardner, Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, Framingham, and New Bedford areas. The Peabody-Salem-Beverly area had no change in its jobs level over the month, while seasonal losses occurred the remaining six areas.
From September 2015 to September 2016, 14 of the 15 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, Taunton-Middleborough-Norton, Worcester, Pittsfield, and Brockton areas.
In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for September was 3.3%.
Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.6% for the month of September. The unemployment rate is down 1.2% over the year. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 5,100-job gain in September and an over-the-year gain of 78,300 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.
