Press Release  Massachusetts Unemployment and Job Estimates for September 2024

BOSTON — The state’s September total unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, a 0.1 percentage point increase from the revised August estimate of 3.7 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday. The Massachusetts unemployment rate was 0.3 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 up by 0.5 percentage points.

The labor force increased by an estimated 6,500 from the revised estimate of 3,844,000 in August, with 2,700 more residents employed and 3,700 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 – increased 0.1 percentage point over-the-month, to 66.4 percent, the highest it has been since January 2020. Compared to September 2023, the labor force participation rate increased by 1.4 percentage points over-the-year.

The BLS preliminary job estimates for Massachusetts decreased by 2,600 jobs in September. This follows August’s revised loss of 2,100 jobs. Preliminary private sector jobs increased by 4,600 in September. The largest over-the-month private sector job gains were in Education and Health Services, Other Services, and Professional, Scientific, and Business Services. Employment now stands at 3,743,700. Massachusetts gained 680,200 jobs since the employment low in April 2020.

From September 2023 to September 2024, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 34,100 jobs. The largest over-the-year gains occurred in Education and Health Services, Construction, and Government.  

August 2024 Employment Overview

Education and Health Services gained 2,500 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 23,800 were added.

Other Services gained 2,300 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 4,600 were added.

Professional, Scientific, and Business Services gained 2,200 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 1,100 were added.

Manufacturing gained 1,100 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 3,700 were lost.

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities gained 700 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 1,100 were lost.

Information gained 600 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 4,300 were lost.

Construction lost 800 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 5,700 were added.

Financial Activities lost 1,900 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 1,200 were lost.

Leisure and Hospitality lost 2,100 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 4,500 were added.

Government lost 7,200 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 4,600 were added.

Labor Force Overview

The September estimates show 3,703,700 Massachusetts residents were employed and 146,800 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,850,500. The unemployment rate at 3.8 percent was 0.1 percentage point higher than the revised August rate of 3.7 percent. Over-the-month, the September labor force increased by 6,500 from 3,844,000 in August, with 2,700 more residents employed and 3,700 more residents unemployed. The labor force participation rate, the share of the working age population employed and unemployed, increased by 0.1 percentage point to 66.4 percent. The labor force was up 97,700 from the September 2023 estimate of 3,752,800 following the annual revision, with 75,800 more employed residents, and 21,900 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 October 2024 and revised September 2024 unemployment rate, labor force, and job estimates for Massachusetts will be released on Friday, November 15, 2024. 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.  

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