The Massachusetts unemployment rate dropped to 6.5% in April, down from 6.7% in March.
From the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Massachusetts Unemployment & Job Estimates for April
BOSTON, MA – MAY 21, 2021 — The state’s April total unemployment rate is down 0.2 percentage points at 6.5 percent following a revision to the March unemployment rate of 6.7 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts gained 5,100 jobs in April. This follows last month’s revised gain of 14,800 jobs. Over the month, the private sector added 3,900 jobs as gains occurred across four sectors. Since December 2020, Massachusetts has gained 77,500 jobs. The Professional, Scientific and Business Services sector led in over the month gains, with 4,500 (+0.8%) jobs added, while the largest over the month losses occurred in Trade, Transportation and Utilities and Education and Health Services, as each lost 1,100 jobs.
From April 2020 to April 2021, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 392,300 jobs. Gains occurred over the year in each of the private sectors except for Information, with a small job loss of 200 jobs. The Leisure and Hospitality sector saw the largest gain of 119,600 (+75.7%) jobs, followed by Trade, Transportation and Utilities, with 88,500 (19%) jobs added over the year.
The April unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points higher than the national rate of 6.1 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The labor force increased by 1,900 from 3,744,400 in March, as 12,400 more residents were employed and 10,500 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.
Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down by 9.9 percentage points.
The state’s labor force participation rate – the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks – was up one-tenth of a percentage point at 66.4 percent. Compared to April 2020, the labor force participation rate is up 6.0 percentage points.
April 2021 Employment Overview
Professional, Scientific and Business Services gained 4,500 (+0.8%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Professional, Scientific and Business Services gained 43,400 (+7.8%) jobs.
Leisure and Hospitality gained 2,300 (+0.8%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Leisure and Hospitality gained 119,600 (+75.7%) jobs.
Government gained 1,200 (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Government lost 5,100 (-1.2%) jobs.
Information gained 700 (+0.8%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Information lost 200 (-0.2%) jobs.
Manufacturing gained 500 (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Manufacturing gained 15,300 (+7.1%) jobs.
Other Services lost 500 jobs (-0.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Other Services gained 27,500 jobs OTY (+31.9%).
Construction lost 600 (-0.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Construction has gained 48,500 jobs (+42.3%).
Financial Activities lost 700 jobs (-0.3%) over the month. Over the year, Financial Activities gained 4,500 (+2.1%) jobs.
Education and Health Services lost 1,100 (-0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Education and Health Services gained 50,200 (+7.1%) jobs.
Trade, Transportation and Utilities lost 1,100 (-0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Trade, Transportation and Utilities gained 88,500 jobs (+19.0%) jobs.
Labor Force Overview
The April estimates show 3,504,700 Massachusetts residents were employed and 241,700 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,746,400. The unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point over the month after a revision to the March unemployment rate of 6.7 percent. The April labor force increased by 1,900 from 3,744,400 in March, as 12,400 more residents were employed and 10,500 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force participation rate, the share of working age population employed and unemployed, was up one-tenth of a percentage point at 66.4 percent. The labor force was up 336,500 from the 3,409,900 April 2020 estimate, with 653,200 more residents employed and 316,700 fewer residents unemployed.
The unemployment rate is based on a monthly sample of households. The job estimates are derived from a monthly sample survey of employers. As a result, the two statistics may exhibit different monthly trends.
NOTES: The labor force is the sum of the numbers of employed residents and those unemployed, that is residents not working but actively seeking work in the last four weeks. Estimates may not add up to the total labor force due to rounding. For further information on seasonal adjustment methodology, please refer to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website https://www.bls.gov.
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