- Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Boston, MA — The state’s May total unemployment rate is down 0.3 percentage points at 6.1 percent following a revision to the April unemployment rate of 6.4 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts gained 9,200 jobs in May. This follows last month’s revised gain of 10,200 jobs. Over the month, Leisure and Hospitality once again had the largest gains with 3,200 jobs added followed by Education and Health Services, adding 2,400 jobs. Since December 2020, Massachusetts has gained 91,800 jobs.
From May 2020 to May 2021, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 357,700 jobs. Education and Health Services gained the most jobs, adding 50,600 followed by Leisure and Hospitality, adding 43,400 jobs.
The May unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the national rate of 5.8 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The labor force increased by 1,900 from 3,745,700 in April, as 13,700 more residents were employed and 11,800 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.
Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down by 9.2 percentage points.
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 at 66.4 percent. Compared to May 2020, the labor force participation rate is up 2.5 percentage points.
May 2021 Employment Overview
Leisure And Hospitality gained 3,200 (+1.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 43,400 (+7.8%) jobs were added.
Education and Health Services gained 2,400 (+0.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 50,600 (+7.1%) jobs were added.
Professional And Business Services gained 1,600 (+0.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 37,500 (+6.6%) jobs were added.
Government gained 1,600 (+0.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 4,400 (+1.0%) jobs were lost.
Manufacturing gained 1,300 (+0.6%)jobs over the month. Over the year, 13,000 (+5.9%) jobs were added.
Financial Activities gained 300 jobs (+0.1%) over the month. Over the year, 5,300 (+2.5%) jobs were added.
Information gained 200 (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 1,300 (+1.5%) jobs were added.
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 200 (0.0%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 85,800 (+18.3%) jobs were added.
Other Services lost 300 (-0.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 20,800 (+22.4%) jobs were added.
Construction lost 900 (-0.6%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 32,400 (+25.0%) jobs were added.
Labor Force Overview
The May estimates show 3,518,600 Massachusetts residents were employed and 229,000 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,747,600. The unemployment rate dropped three-tenths of a percentage point over the month after a revision to the April unemployment rate of 6.4 percent. Over the month, the May labor force was up by 1,900 from 3,745,700 in April, with 13,700 more residents employed and 11,800 fewer residents unemployed. The labor force participation rate, the share of working age population employed and unemployed, remained unchanged at 66.4 percent. The labor force was up 138,500 from the 3,609,100 May 2020 estimate, as 462,100 more residents were employed and 323,600 fewer residents were unemployed.
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.
Local area unemployment statistics for May 2021 will be released on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The preliminary June 2021 and revised May 2021 unemployment rate, labor force and job estimates for Massachusetts will be released on Friday, July 16, 2021. See the 2021 Media Advisory annual schedule for a complete list of release dates.
Detailed labor market information is available at www.mass.gov/lmi.
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