- Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
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Matthew Kitsos, Deputy Chief of Staff & Director of Communications
BOSTON — Local unemployment rates decreased in seven of twelve labor market areas and increased in one of twelve labor market areas in the state during the month of August 2025 compared to July 2025, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.
Compared to August 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, all seven areas lost jobs compared to the previous month. The largest percentage decreases occurred in the Barnstable Town, MA(-1.4%), Pittsfield, MA(-1.3%), and Springfield, MA(-0.8%) areas.
From August 2024 to August 2025, five areas gained jobs with the largest percentage increases seen in the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA(+2.9%), Springfield, MA (+1.3%), and Worcester, MA (+0.6%) areas.
The statewide seasonally adjusted preliminary jobs estimate showed a decrease of 3,800 jobs in August, and an over-the-year gain of 6,500 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 August 2025 was 4.7%, 0.1 percentage point below the revised July 2025 estimate and 0.2 percentage points above the nation’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.5%.
Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of August 2025 was 4.8%, equal to the revised July 2025 estimate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August 2025 increased by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3%.
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 September 2025 and revised August 2025 unemployment rates, labor force data and jobs estimate for Massachusetts will be released on Friday, October 17, 2025; local unemployment statistics will be released on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. Detailed labor market information is available at mass.gov/EconomicResearch. See the 2025 Media Advisory for complete list of release dates.
Monthly Unemployment area comparisons
Monthly Employment area comparisons
Most recent month Unemployment all MA cities and towns
Statewide Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment
Statewide Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment
Statewide Seasonally Adjusted Employment
Statewide Not Seasonally Adjusted Employment
Labor Force and Unemployment Data
Current Employment Statistics Data
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