The unemployment rate in the City of Fall River in December rose seven-tenths of one percent to 6.6%, up from 5.9% in November.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reports that the labor force in Fall River in August totaled 46,462 employees. 3,075 people were recorded as unemployed. The 6.6% unemployment rate for December compared to 5.6% in December of 2024.
Here are the unemployment rates of communities surrounding Fall River:
Somerset, 4.8% (4.6% in November)
Swansea, 4.5% (4.3% in November)
Westport, 4.5% (4.3% in November)
Freetown, 4.8% (4.4% in November)
Here are the rates in select Gateway Cities across Eastern Massachusetts last month:
New Bedford, 6.7% (6.3% in November)
Taunton, 5.3% (5.4% in November)
Brockton, 5.5% (5.8% in November)
Lowell, 5.4% (5.4% in November)
Lawrence, 6.4% (6.2% in November)
The state unemployment rate for December sits at 4.7%. 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 January 27, 2026 — Local unemployment rates increased in eight of twelve labor market areas and decreased in three labor market areas in the state during the month of December 2025 compared to November 2025, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.
Compared to December 2024, rates were up in all twelve labor market areas.
Of the five MSA areas and two Metropolitan Divisions for which employment estimates are published, four areas gained jobs compared to the previous month. The largest percentage increases occurred in the Pittsfield, MA(+0.7%), Worcester, MA(+0.3%), and Springfield, MA(+0.1%) areas.
From December 2024 to December 2025, six areas gained jobs with the largest percentage increases seen in the Pittsfield, MA(+0.9%), Springfield, MA (+0.6%), and Worcester, MA (+0.6%) areas.
The statewide seasonally adjusted preliminary jobs estimate showed an increase of 4,600 jobs in December, and an over-the-year gain of 1,300 jobs.
In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for December 2025 was 4.7%, 0.6 percentage points above the nation’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.1%.
Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of December 2025 was 4.8%, 0.1 percentage point above the revised November 2025 estimate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2025 was 4.4%.
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.
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