Local unemployment rates went down in all twenty-four labor market areas in the state during the month of February. That from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The rates were also down in all areas compared to February 2015.
Six areas added jobs over the month, with gains in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Worcester, Springfield, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford and Peabody-Salem-Beverly areas. The Framingham area had no change in its jobs level over the month, while seasonal losses occurred in the eight remaining areas.
From February 2015 to February 2016, fourteen areas added jobs with the largest percentage gains in the Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Haverhill-Newport-Amesbury and Barnstable areas. The Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead area recorded a loss.
In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for February is 4.7 percent, down 0.2 of a percentage point from the January rate.
The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 13,300 job gain in February and an over-the-year gain of 67,100 jobs.
The labor force, unemployment rates and jobs estimates for Massachusetts is based on different statistical methodology specified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Comments are closed.