BOSTON – The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) today reported that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates for October were down in thirteen areas, up in seven areas, and unchanged in two areas.
Due to a lapse in funding as a result of the federal government shutdown in October, the revised August and preliminary September local area jobs, labor force and unemployment rate publication and release dates were revised. EOLWD today also reported the revised August local area jobs, labor force and unemployment rates as well as the revised September local area jobs, labor force and unemployment rates.
The preliminary October estimates indicate statewide that the October seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate was 6.8 percent, down 0.1 of a percentage point over the month. Over the year, the statewide unadjusted rate was up 0.5 of a percentage point from the October 2012 rate of 6.3 percent.
In October, over the month job gains occurred in ten of the twelve areas for which estimates are published; the remaining two areas lost jobs. The largest job gains were in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Worcester, and Peabody areas. Over the year, ten of the twelve areas added jobs with the largest percentage gains in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Barnstable, Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury, and Peabody areas.
The seasonally adjusted statewide October unemployment rate, released on November 22nd, was 7.2 percent, up 0.1 of a percentage point over the month and 0.5 of a percentage point over the year. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 9,100 job gain in October following a gain of 9,400 jobs in September.
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.
