BOSTON, MA – July 19, 2024 --- The state’s June total unemployment rate was 3.2 percent, a 0.2 percentage point increase from the revised May estimate of 3.0 percent , the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday. The Massachusetts unemployment rate was 0.9 percentage points lower than 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 down by 0.1 percentage point.

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 0.4 percentage points over-the-month, to 65.7 percent. Compared to June 2023, the labor force participation rate also increased 0.6 percentage points over-the-year. The labor force increased by an estimated 23,800 from the revised estimate of 3,782,800 in May, with 16,200 residents more employed and 7,600 more residents unemployed over-the-month.

The BLS preliminary estimates show Massachusetts gained 19,000 jobs in June. This follows May’s revised gain of 6,400 jobs, up from the preliminary estimates of 4,200. The largest over-the-month private sector job gains were in Education and Health Services, Professional, Scientific, and Business Services, and Construction. Employment now stands at 3,755,100. Massachusetts gained 691,600 jobs since the employment low in April 2020.

From June 2023 to June 2024, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 40,200 jobs. The largest over-the-year gains occurred in Education and Health Services, Government, and Construction.

June 2024 Employment Overview

Government gained 8,300 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 10,400 were added.

Education and Health Services gained 5,800 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 23,400 were added.

Professional, Scientific, and Business Services gained 3,300 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 500 were lost.

Construction gained 1,300 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 6,900 were added.

Other Services gained 1,300 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 4,500 were added.

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities gained 500 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 2,600 were lost.

Financial Activities gained 300 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 0 were lost.

Information gained 200 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 2,800 were lost.

Manufacturing lost 200 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 5,000 were lost.

Leisure and Hospitality lost 1,800 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 5,900 were added.

Labor Force Overview

The June estimates show 3,683,700 Massachusetts residents were employed and 122,900 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,806,600. The unemployment rate at 3.2 percent was 0.2 percentage points higher than the revised May rate of 3.0 percent. Over-the-month, the June labor force increased by 23,800 from 3,782,800 in May, with 16,200 more residents employed and 7,600 more residents unemployed. The labor force participation rate, the share of the working age population employed and unemployed, increased by 0.4 percentage points to 65.7 percent. The labor force was up 55,800 from the June 2023 estimate of 3,750,800 following the annual revision, with 55,300 more employed residents, and 500 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.

The preliminary July 2024 and revised June 2024 unemployment rate, labor force, and job estimates for Massachusetts will be released on Friday, August 19, 2024. See the 2024 Media Advisory for complete list of release dates.

Detailed labor market information is available at https://www.mass.gov/EconomicResearch .