Press Release  Latest Seasonally Unadjusted Unemployment and Job Estimates for Local Labor Markets in Massachusetts for December 2024

BOSTON — Local unemployment rates increased in all twenty-four labor market areas in the state during the month of December 2024 compared to November 2024, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.

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

Of the fifteen areas for which employment estimates are published, ten NECTA area lost jobs compared to the previous month. The largest percentage decreases occurred in the Taunton-Middleborough-Norton(-0.8%), Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton (-0.5%), and Boston-Cambridge-Newton (-0.4%) areas.

From December 2023 to December 2024, fourteen areas gained jobs with the largest percentage increases seen in the Barnstable Town (+3.7%), Worcester MA-CT (+1.8%), and Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead (+1.5%) areas.

The statewide seasonally adjusted preliminary jobs estimate showed an increase of 6,000 jobs in December, and an over-the-year gain of 26,200 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 December 2024 was 4.2%, up 0.3 percentage points from the revised November 2024 estimate and was 0.4 percentage points above the nation’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 3.8%.

Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of December 2024 was 4.1%, up 0.1 percentage point compared to the revised November 2024 estimate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2024 decreased 0.1 percentage point 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 January 2025 and the revised 2024 unemployment rates, labor force data and jobs estimate for Massachusetts will be released on Friday, March 7, 2025; local unemployment statistics for January 2025 will be released on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Detailed labor market information is available at http://www.mass.gov/EconomicResearch. See the 2025 Media Advisory for complete list of release dates.

This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration.

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