The Massachusetts unemployment rate for December rose one-tenth of a percent over November.
From the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
BOSTON, MA – January 24, 2025 — The state’s December total unemployment rate was 4.1 percent, a 0.1 percentage point increase from the revised November estimate of 4.0 percent , the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday. The Massachusetts unemployment rate was equal to the national rate of 4.1 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Over-the-year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was up by 0.9 percentage points.
The labor force increased by an estimated 6,500 from the revised estimate of 3,853,900 in November, with 1,100 more residents employed and 5,500 more residents unemployed over-the-month. 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 – increased by 0.1 percentage points to 66.5 percent. Compared to December 2023, the labor force participation rate increased by 1.6 percentage points over-the-year.
The BLS preliminary job estimates for Massachusetts increased by 6,000 jobs in December. This follows November’s revised loss of 1,500 jobs. The largest over-the-month private sector job gains were in Education and Health Services, Professional, Scientific, and Business Services, and Leisure and Hospitality. Employment now stands at 3,747,300. Massachusetts gained 683,800 jobs since the employment low in April 2020.
From December 2023 to December 2024, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 26,200 jobs. The largest over-the-year gains occurred in Education and Health Services, Leisure and Hospitality, and Government.
December 2024 Employment Overview
Education and Health Services gained 4,200 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 18,900 were added.
Professional, Scientific, and Business Services gained 1,800 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 3,100 were added.
Leisure and Hospitality gained 1,200 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 6,700 were added.
Other Services gained 800 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 1,000 were added.
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities had no change in 0 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 1,200 were lost.
Government lost 100 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 6,000 were added.
Manufacturing lost 400 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 4,700 were lost.
Information lost 400 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 5,400 were lost.
Construction lost 500 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 1,600 were added.
Financial Activities lost 600 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 200 were added.
Labor Force Overview
The December estimates show 3,701,800 Massachusetts residents were employed and 158,700 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,860,400. The unemployment rate at 4.1 percent was 0.1 percentage point higher than the revised November rate of 4.0 percent. Over-the-month, the December labor force increased by 6,500 from 3,853,900 in November, with 1,100 more residents employed and 5,500 more residents unemployed. The labor force participation rate, the share of the working age population employed and unemployed, increased by 0.1 percentage point to 66.5 percent. The labor force was up 110,500 from the December 2023 estimate of 3,749,900 following the annual revision, with 73,700 more employed residents, and 37,000 more unemployed residents.
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.
