The unemployment rate in the City of Fall River in March fell five-tenths of one percent to 7.8%, up from 8.3% in February.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reports that the labor force in Fall River in March totaled 47,246 employees. 3,681 people were recorded as unemployed. The 7.8% unemployment rate for March compared to 6.5% in March of 2024.
Here are the unemployment rates of communities surrounding Fall River:
Somerset, 5.6% (6.0% in February)
Swansea, 5.5% (6.0% in February)
Westport, 3.7% (3.5% in February)
Freetown, 5.6% (5.6% in February)
Here are the rates in select Gateway Cities across Eastern Massachusetts last month:
New Bedford, 7.5% (7.9% in February)
Taunton, 5.6% (5.7% in February)
Brockton, 5.6% (5.7% in February)
Lowell, 5.3% (5.4% in February)
Lawrence, 7.1% (6.9% in February)
The state unemployment rate for March rose one-tenth of a percent to 4.4%. Here is more information from the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development:
From the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
BOSTON, MA April 22, 2025 — Local unemployment rates increased in one of twelve labor market areas and decreased in seven of twelve labor market areas in the state during the month of March 2025 compared to February 2025, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.
Compared to March 2024, rates were up in all twelve labor market areas.
Of the seven MSA areas for which employment estimates are published, all areas gained jobs compared to the previous month. The largest percentage increases occurred in the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA (+0.8%), Boston, MA Metropolitan Division (+0.6%), and Barnstable Town, MA (+0.6%) areas.
From March 2024 to March 2025, four areas lost payroll jobs with the largest percentage decreases seen in the Pittsfield, MA (-0.7%), Boston, MA Metropolitan Division (-0.5%), and Worcester, MA (-0.3%) areas.
The statewide seasonally adjusted preliminary jobs estimate showed an increase of 4,400 jobs in March, and an over-the-year loss of 11,100 jobs.
In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for March 2025 was 5.0%, equal to the revised February 2025 estimate and was 0.8 percentage points above the nation’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.2%.
Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of March 2025 was 4.4%, up 0.1 percentage point compared to the revised February 2025 estimate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2025 increased 0.1 percentage point to 4.2%.
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 methodologies specified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
