The unemployment rate in Fall River fell sharply in August to 14.7%, down from the July rate of 20.8%.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reports that the labor force in Fall River in August totaled 40,356 employees. 5,921 people were recorded as being unemployed. The 14.7% unemployment rate for August compares to a 4.6% unemployment rate for August of 2019.
Towns surrounding Fall River also saw a drop in their unemployment rates: Somerset, 10.3% (15.7% in July), Swansea 8.9% (13.3% in July), Westport, 10.3% (15.3% in July) and Freetown, 9.8% (14.9% in July).
Gateway Cities across Massachusetts also saw a drop in unemployment for August. New Bedford recorded a rate of 15.7% (22.2% rate for July). Taunton fell to 14.1% in August (20.0% in July). Brockton dropped to 17.3% (24.1% in July). Lowell fell to 13.2% (19.0%% in July). Lawrence recorded a rate of 23.0% (31.0% in July).
Here is more information from the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development on the local numbers:
Latest Seasonally Unadjusted Unemployment and Job Estimates for Local Labor Markets in Massachusetts
BOSTON, MA September 22, 2020 — Local unemployment rates decreased in twenty-four labor market areas in the state during the month of August, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.
Compared to August 2019, the rates were up in twenty-four labor market areas.
All fifteen areas for which job estimates are published recorded job gains in August. The largest gains occurred in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Springfield, Worcester, Peabody-Salem-Beverly, Framingham, and Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford areas.
From August 2019 to August 2020, all fifteen areas lost jobs with the largest percentage losses in the Barnstable, Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead, Pittsfield, Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, and Springfield areas.
In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide-unadjusted unemployment rate for August was 11.2 percent.
Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of August was 11.3 percent, 4.9 percentage points below the revised July rate of 16.2 percent.
The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 51,600 job gain in August, and an over-the-year loss of 403,200 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 (BLS).
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