LATEST SEASONALLY UNADJUSTED JOB AND UNEMPLOYMENT ESTIMATES FOR LOCAL LABOR MARKETS IN THE COMMONWEALTH

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

LATEST SEASONALLY UNADJUSTED JOB AND UNEMPLOYMENT ESTIMATES FOR LOCAL LABOR MARKETS IN THE COMMONWEALTH

BOSTON MA – May 21, 2013 – The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates for April were down in all areas, with the exception of Amherst.  Over the year, the rates were down in seven areas; up in fourteen areas; and unchanged in one area. 

Statewide, the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate was 6.3 percent, down 0.5 of a percentage point over the month and 45,200 jobs were added in April.  Over the year, the statewide unadjusted rate was unchanged from the April 2012 rate of 6.3 percent and Massachusetts added 48,100 jobs. 

In April, over the month job gains occurred in eleven of the twelve areas.  The largest job gains were in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Springfield, Barnstable, Worcester, and Framingham areas.  The Pittsfield area was the only area to record a job loss. 

Over the year, ten of the twelve areas added jobs with the largest percentage gains in the Barnstable, Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury and Peabody areas.
The seasonally adjusted statewide April unemployment rate, released on May 16th, was 6.4 percent, unchanged over the month and down 0.2 of a percentage point from the 6.6 percent rate recorded in April 2012.  The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 1,400 job loss in April following a loss of 3,800 jobs in March. 

The labor force, unemployment rates and jobs estimates for Massachusetts, and for every other state, are based on several different statistical methodologies specified by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

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. 

NOTES:  The May 2013 unemployment rate, labor force data, and jobs estimates for Massachusetts will be released on June 20, 2013; local unemployment statistics will be released on June 25, 2013.  Detailed labor market information is available at www.mass.gov/lmi. See the 2013 Media Advisory annual schedule for complete listing of release dates.