The unemployment rate in Massachusetts fell to 6.7% in November.
From the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 18, 2020 — The state’s November total unemployment rate is down 0.7 percentage points at 6.7 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts added 12,200 jobs in November. This follows last month’s revised gain of 9,500 jobs. Over the month, the private sector added 15,600 jobs as gains occurred in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; Professional, Scientific, and Business Services; Construction; Education and Health Services; Leisure and Hospitality; Information; Financial Activities; Manufacturing; and Other Services. Government lost jobs over the month.
From November 2019 to November 2020, BLS estimates Massachusetts lost 337,900 jobs. Losses occurred in each of the private sectors, with the largest percentage losses in Leisure and Hospitality; Other Services; Construction; and Education and Health Services.
The November unemployment rate was the same as the national rate of 6.7 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The labor force decreased by 43,900 from 3,622,200 in October, as 18,000 fewer residents were employed and 25,900 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.
Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by 3.9 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 – dropped to 63.1 percent. Compared to November 2019, the labor force participation rate is down by 4.8 percentage points.
November 2020 Employment Overview
Trade, Transportation and Utilities added 6,800 (+1.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Trade, Transportation and Utilities lost 36,100 (-6.2%) jobs.
Professional, Scientific and Business Services gained 3,500 (+0.6%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Professional, Scientific and Business Services lost 21,500 (-3.6%) jobs.
Construction added 2,900 (+2.0%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Construction has lost 13,500 (-8.3%) jobs.
Education and Health Services gained 1,000 (+0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Education and Health Services lost 64,000 (-7.8%) jobs.
Leisure and Hospitality added 600 (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Leisure and Hospitality lost 132,800 (-35.1%) jobs.
Information gained 300 (+0.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Information lost 3,600 (-3.8%) jobs.
Financial Activities added 200 (+0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Financial Activities lost 1,600 (-0.7%) jobs.
Manufacturing gained 100 (0.0%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Manufacturing lost 8,900 (-3.6%) jobs.
Other Services added 100 (+0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Other Services are down 25,600 (-18.5%) jobs.
Government lost 3,400 (-0.8%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Government lost 30,100 (-6.6%) jobs.
Labor Force Overview
The November estimates show 3,337,200 Massachusetts residents were employed and 241,100 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,578,300. The unemployment rate at 6.7 percent was down by 0.7 percentage points from the October estimate of 7.4 percent. The November labor force decreased by 43,900 from 3,622,200 in October, as 18,000 fewer residents were employed, and 25,900 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force participation rate, the share of working age population employed and unemployed, was down 0.8 percentage points over the month at 63.1 percent. Over the year, the labor force was down 256,800 from the 3,835,100 November 2019 estimate, with 391,400 fewer residents employed and 134,600 more 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. The Bureau of Labor Statistics implemented the Current Population Survey level-shift outliers into the estimation models to incorporate the state claims and CES inputs starting with the revised March estimates. These level shifts preserved movements in published estimates that the models otherwise would have discounted as sampling error. Seasonal factors, which were suspended beginning with the March estimates, have been resumed and were applied starting with the June estimates.
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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