- Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Media Contact for Massachusetts Weekly Initial Unemployment Claimant Data
Charles Pearce, Director of Communications - Exec. Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Boston — Between March, 15th and March 21st,, 2020, Massachusetts had 147,995 individuals file an initial claim for unemployment insurance. This represented an historically unprecedented increase of 1,904% over the prior week, and can be attributed to workers who have been laid off as a result of work closures related to COVID-19. Particularly affected industries were Food and Accommodation which registered the largest single increase in new initial claims – 44,353.
In terms of largest change in new claimants as a percent, Healthcare & Social Assistance showed an increase of 4,035%; Other Services, which includes employees of private households, showed an increase of 3,570%; and Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation, which showed an increase of 2,548%.
|
Industry |
Week Ending 3/14 |
Week Ending 3/21 |
Change |
% Change |
|
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting |
30 |
237 |
207 |
690% |
|
Mining |
2 |
30 |
28 |
1400% |
|
Utilities |
5 |
47 |
42 |
840% |
|
Construction |
800 |
13,522 |
12,722 |
1590% |
|
Manufacturing |
329 |
2,919 |
2,590 |
787% |
|
Wholesale Trade |
196 |
2,279 |
2,083 |
1063% |
|
Retail Trade |
441 |
9,622 |
9,181 |
2082% |
|
Transportation & Warehouse |
521 |
6,772 |
6,251 |
1200% |
|
Information |
142 |
1,268 |
1,126 |
793% |
|
Finance & Insurance |
169 |
646 |
477 |
282% |
|
Real Estate |
119 |
1,676 |
1,557 |
1308% |
|
Professional and Technical Services |
521 |
5,175 |
4,654 |
893% |
|
Management of Companies |
87 |
1,703 |
1,616 |
1857% |
|
Administrative & Waste Services |
604 |
4,422 |
3,818 |
632% |
|
Education |
144 |
2,914 |
2,770 |
1924% |
|
Healthcare & Social Assistance |
440 |
18,192 |
17,752 |
4035% |
|
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation |
194 |
5,137 |
4,943 |
2548% |
|
Food & Accomodation |
1,861 |
44,353 |
42,492 |
2283% |
|
Other Services |
301 |
11,047 |
10,746 |
3570% |
|
Public Administration |
116 |
1,679 |
1,563 |
1347% |
|
Information Not Available |
362 |
14,352 |
13,990 |
3865% |
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