News  Unemployment and Job Estimates in Local Labor Markets for July 2026

Boston, MA — Local unemployment rates increased in ten of twelve labor market areas and decreased in two of twelve labor market areas in the state during the month of July 2026 compared to June 2026, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.

Compared to July 2025, rates were up in seven of the twelve labor market areas and were down in four labor market areas.

Of the five MSA areas and two Metropolitan Divisions for which employment estimates are published, four areas lost jobs compared to the previous month. The largest percentage decreases occurred in the Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA, Metropolitan Division (-0.7%), Amherst Town-Northampton, MA (-0.7%), and, Worcester, MA (-0.6%) areas. 

From July 2025 to July 2026, five areas gained jobs with the largest percentage increases seen in the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA (+1.4%), Worcester, MA (+1.4%), and Springfield, MA (+0.7%) areas.

The statewide seasonally adjusted preliminary jobs estimate showed a decrease of 4,600 jobs in July, and an over-the-year gain of 5,800 jobs.

In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for July 2026 was 0.3 percentage points higher than the nation’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.4%.

Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of July 2026 was 4.4%, equal to the revised June 2026 estimate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July 2026 decreased by 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.