Press Release  Massachusetts Unemployment and Job Estimates for November 2024

BOSTON — The state’s November total unemployment rate was 4.0 percent, a 0.1 percentage point increase from the revised October estimate of 3.9 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday. The Massachusetts unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the national rate of 4.2 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Over-the-year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was up by 0.7 percentage points.

The labor force increased by an estimated 400 from the revised estimate of 3,853,600 in October, with 3,100 fewer residents employed and 3,500 more residents unemployed over-the-month. 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 – remained steady at 66.4 percent. Compared to November 2023, the labor force participation rate increased by 1.5 percentage points over-the-year.

The BLS preliminary job estimates for Massachusetts increased by 800 jobs in November. This follows October’s revised loss of 1,700 jobs. The largest over-the-month private sector job gains were in Leisure and Hospitality, Education and Health Services, and Financial Activities. Employment now stands at 3,743,600. Massachusetts gained 680,100 jobs since the employment low in April 2020.

From November 2023 to November 2024, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 27,100 jobs. The largest over-the-year gains occurred in Education and Health Services, Government, and Leisure and Hospitality.

November 2024 Employment Overview

Leisure and Hospitality gained 2,100 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 5,700 were added.

Government gained 1,500 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 7,300 were added.

Education and Health Services gained 1,000 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 16,800 were added.

Financial Activities gained 600 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 800 were lost.

Information gained 300 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 4,100 were lost.

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities gained 200 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 100 were lost.

Manufacturing lost 500 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 4,000 were lost.

Other Services lost 1,200 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 600 were added.

Professional, Scientific, and Business Services lost 1,500 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 2,400 were added.

Construction lost 1,700 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 3,300 were added.

Labor Force Overview

The November estimates show 3,700,800 Massachusetts residents were employed and 153,200 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,854,000. The unemployment rate at 4.0 percent was 0.1 percentage point higher than the revised October rate of 3.9 percent. Over-the-month, the November labor force increased by 400 from 3,853,600 in October, with 3,100 fewer residents employed and 3,500 more residents unemployed. The labor force participation rate, the share of the working age population employed and unemployed, remained at 66.4 percent. The labor force was up 102,300 from the November 2023 estimate of 3,751,700 following the annual revision, with 72,700 more employed residents, and 29,500 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 December 2024 and revised November 2024 unemployment rate, labor force, and job estimates for Massachusetts will be released on Friday, January 24, 2025. See the 2024 Media Advisory annual schedule for a complete list of release dates.

Detailed labor market information is available at www.mass.gov/economicresearch.  

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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