BOSTON, MA October 22, 2024 --- Local unemployment rates decreased in twenty-three of twenty-four labor market areas and held constant in one labor market area in the state during the month of September 2024 compared to August 2024, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.

Compared to September 2023, rates were up in all twenty-four labor market areas.

Of the fifteen areas for which employment estimates are published, five NECTA area gained jobs compared to the previous month.  The largest percentage increase occurred in the Leominster-Gardner area (1.0%). The largest percentage decreases occurred in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton (-0.4%), Barnstable Town (-4.5%), and Lawrence-Methuen Town-Salem MA-NH (-0.9%) areas.

From September 2023 to September 2024, fourteen areas gained jobs with the largest percentage increases seen in the Barnstable Town (+2.9%), Leominster-Gardner (+2.1%), and Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead (+1.8%) areas.

The statewide seasonally adjusted preliminary jobs estimate showed a decrease of -2,600 jobs in September, and an over-the-year gain of 34,100 jobs.

In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for September 2024 was 3.6%, down 0.9 percentage points from the revised August 2024 estimate and was 0.3 percentage points below the nation’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 3.9%.

Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of September 2024 was 3.8%, up 0.1 percentage point compared to the revised August 2024 estimate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September 2024 decreased by 0.1 percentage point over-the-month to 4.1%.

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.

NOTES: The preliminary October 2024 and the revised September 2024 unemployment rates, labor force data and jobs estimate for Massachusetts will be released on Friday, November 15, 2024; local unemployment statistics for October 2024 will be released on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. https://www.mass.gov/EconomicResearch . See the 2024 Media Advisory for complete list of release dates.