- Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Media Contact
Matthew Kitsos, Deputy Chief of Staff & Director of Communications
BOSTON — Today, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) released Massachusetts unemployment and job estimates for July, with preliminary data indicating 2,700 more Massachusetts residents gained employment, which includes individuals in private and non-profit jobs plus self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs, while payroll jobs decreased by 600. Additionally, while more individuals entered the Massachusetts labor force in July, the labor force participation rate and unemployment rate remained unchanged. Preliminary data is based on survey data provided by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Despite a net loss in payroll jobs this month, there was some positive growth in BLS categories including 1) Education and Health Services (+1,800), 2) Construction (+1,600), and 3) Other Services (+1,000). In addition to payroll data, BLS also reports preliminary data that indicates 2,700 more Massachusetts residents were employed in July for a total 3,959,400; employed residents data includes individuals who are self-employed (e.g. contractors, physicians, and drivers) and is not captured in payroll job data.
“As Massachusetts and the country navigates these uncertain economic times, it is encouraging to see stability in our state’s unemployment rate combined with some job growth in a few industries, based on preliminary data,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones.“Unemployment and jobs data help to shape workforce policy and planning, especially as the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our partners collaborate through intentional strategies to connect more unemployed and underemployed jobseekers to career opportunities expressed by employers eager to attract Massachusetts’ untapped talent.”
"The labor market data for July showed mixed signals, but the underlying narrative points to gradual slowdown in the labor market,” said EOLWD’s Department of Economic Research Chief Economist Mark Rembert. “On one hand, fewer residents filed for unemployment benefits in July. On the other, the data suggests that it is taking longer for those looking for work to land a new position. However, the health care and social assistance and construction sectors are bright spots, together adding more than 10,000 jobs over the past three months.”
This month, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $24.2 Million Investment to expand career technical training opportunities with the goal of preparing 2,500 jobseekers in manufacturing, construction, and technical trades. Additionally, the administration launched the Discovery, Research and Innovation for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE) Initiative to grow Massachusetts’s world-renowned research and innovation economy and create thousands of new jobs. Among focus areas, DRIVE will bring together partners to strengthen employment and training opportunities and talent pipelines in science and technology across Massachusetts.
Recently, as part of the MassHire 250 Workforce Innovation Tour, Secretary Jones toured Harmonic Drive LLC in Beverly, which engineers and manufactures precision servo actuators, gearheads, and gear component sets. Harmonic Drive LLC is a partner to the MassHire North Shore Career Center’s Advanced Manufacturing Training and Expansion Program (AMTEP).
“Harmonic Drive is anticipating significant growth over the next few years,” said Harmonic Drive VP of Operational Excellence Charlie Anastos. “As a result, we are hiring now to fill positions across all areas of the company. We have around 20 open positions with more to come."Today, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) released Massachusetts unemployment and job estimates for July, with preliminary data indicating 2,700 more Massachusetts residents gained employment, which includes individuals in private and non-profit jobs plus self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs, while payroll jobs decreased by 600. Additionally, while more individuals entered the Massachusetts labor force in July, the labor force participation rate and unemployment rate remained unchanged. Preliminary data is based on survey data provided by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Despite a net loss in payroll jobs this month, there was some positive growth in BLS categories including 1) Education and Health Services (+1,800), 2) Construction (+1,600), and 3) Other Services (+1,000). In addition to payroll data, BLS also reports preliminary data that indicates 2,700 more Massachusetts residents were employed in July for a total 3,959,400; employed residents data includes individuals who are self-employed (e.g. contractors, physicians, and drivers) and is not captured in payroll job data.
“As Massachusetts and the country navigates these uncertain economic times, it is encouraging to see stability in our state’s unemployment rate combined with some job growth in a few industries, based on preliminary data,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones.“Unemployment and jobs data help to shape workforce policy and planning, especially as the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our partners collaborate through intentional strategies to connect more unemployed and underemployed jobseekers to career opportunities expressed by employers eager to attract Massachusetts’ untapped talent.”
"The labor market data for July showed mixed signals, but the underlying narrative points to gradual slowdown in the labor market,” said EOLWD’s Department of Economic Research Chief Economist Mark Rembert. “On one hand, fewer residents filed for unemployment benefits in July. On the other, the data suggests that it is taking longer for those looking for work to land a new position. However, the health care and social assistance and construction sectors are bright spots, together adding more than 10,000 jobs over the past three months.”
This month, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $24.2 Million Investment to expand career technical training opportunities with the goal of preparing 2,500 jobseekers in manufacturing, construction, and technical trades. Additionally, the administration launched the Discovery, Research and Innovation for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE) Initiative to grow Massachusetts’s world-renowned research and innovation economy and create thousands of new jobs. Among focus areas, DRIVE will bring together partners to strengthen employment and training opportunities and talent pipelines in science and technology across Massachusetts.
Recently, as part of the MassHire 250 Workforce Innovation Tour, Secretary Jones toured Harmonic Drive LLC in Beverly, which engineers and manufactures precision servo actuators, gearheads, and gear component sets. Harmonic Drive LLC is a partner to the MassHire North Shore Career Center’s Advanced Manufacturing Training and Expansion Program (AMTEP).
“Harmonic Drive is anticipating significant growth over the next few years,” said Harmonic Drive VP of Operational Excellence Charlie Anastos. “As a result, we are hiring now to fill positions across all areas of the company. We have around 20 open positions with more to come."
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE MONTHLY JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT REPORT
The Massachusetts labor force grew by an estimated 2,100 individuals in the past month, bringing the estimated labor force to 3,961,500. The state’s labor force participation rate remained at 66.9 percent. The state’s preliminary unemployment rate in July remained at 4.8 percent. Additional takeaways include:
- Estimated Employed Residents increased in July by 2,700, which include self-employed individuals.
- Estimated payroll jobs decreased in July by 600. The largest gains were in Education and Health Services (+1,800 jobs), Construction (+1,600 jobs), and Other Services (+1,000). This follows a revised decrease of 3,700 payroll jobs in June.
- The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) remained at 66.9% and is 4.7 percentage points higher than the national average. Since January 2023, Massachusetts labor force has increased by 192,000, a 5.1 percent change which places Massachusetts in the top 5 among states.
For a detailed overview of the BLS data, please visit mass.gov/economicresearch and July BLS Unemployment and Jobs Estimates.
Labor Market Quick Links
Massachusetts Labor Market Data
Find labor market information for Massachusetts, including employment and wage data, unemployment and labor force participation rates, projections, industry and occupational statistics and other workforce statistical information by different labor market areas.
Learn about the different types of labor market information (LMI) resources offered by the Department of Economic Research.
2025 Massachusetts Workforce Data Report & Dashboard
Access workforce demographic data collected from Massachusetts employers, including race/ethnicity, gender, job title, and industry. View key insights or read the full report, plus explore an interactive dashboard and download aggregate data.
Employer and Jobseeker Resources
Massachusetts employers and residents can visit MassTalent and create a free MassHire JobQuest account, for employers to search for talent and for jobseekers to access job openings and explore opportunities like Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, Clean Energy, Technology, and Health and Human Services.
Employers looking to promote job openings, recruit for talent, or explore available job training programs to attract, retain, or develop their workforce can benefit from the menu of employer resources available through MassHire. Visit mass.gov/Workforce.
MassHire career centers and online services are available for jobseekers in between jobs, seeking a new opportunity, or aiming for career growth. MassHire’s comprehensive services include personalized career guidance, informative workshops, specialized training programs, valuable job referrals, expert resume assistance, and access to a wide array of job listings. Visit mass.gov/CareerCenters. Visit here.
Note: The unemployment rate is based on a household survey, while job estimates come from an employer survey. Because these surveys are separate, the two statistics may show different trends from month to month. The Unemployment and Jobs Report for August is scheduled for released on September 19, 2025.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE MONTHLY JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT REPORT
The Massachusetts labor force grew by an estimated 2,100 individuals in the past month, bringing the estimated labor force to 3,961,500. The state’s labor force participation rate remained at 66.9 percent. The state’s preliminary unemployment rate in July remained at 4.8 percent. Additional takeaways include:
- Estimated Employed Residents increased in July by 2,700, which include self-employed individuals.
- Estimated payroll jobs decreased in July by 600. The largest gains were in Education and Health Services (+1,800 jobs), Construction (+1,600 jobs), and Other Services (+1,000). This follows a revised decrease of 3,700 payroll jobs in June.
- The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) remained at 66.9% and is 4.7 percentage points higher than the national average. Since January 2023, Massachusetts labor force has increased by 192,000, a 5.1 percent change which places Massachusetts in the top 5 among states.
For a detailed overview of the BLS data, please visit mass.gov/economicresearch and July BLS Unemployment and Jobs Estimates.
Labor Market Quick Links
Massachusetts Labor Market Data
Find labor market information for Massachusetts, including employment and wage data, unemployment and labor force participation rates, projections, industry and occupational statistics and other workforce statistical information by different labor market areas.
Learn about the different types of labor market information (LMI) resources offered by the Department of Economic Research.
2025 Massachusetts Workforce Data Report & Dashboard
Access workforce demographic data collected from Massachusetts employers, including race/ethnicity, gender, job title, and industry. View key insights or read the full report, plus explore an interactive dashboard and download aggregate data.
Employer and Jobseeker Resources
Massachusetts employers and residents can visit MassTalent and create a free MassHire JobQuest account, for employers to search for talent and for jobseekers to access job openings and explore opportunities like Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, Clean Energy, Technology, and Health and Human Services.
Employers looking to promote job openings, recruit for talent, or explore available job training programs to attract, retain, or develop their workforce can benefit from the menu of employer resources available through MassHire. Visit mass.gov/Workforce.
MassHire career centers and online services are available for jobseekers in between jobs, seeking a new opportunity, or aiming for career growth. MassHire’s comprehensive services include personalized career guidance, informative workshops, specialized training programs, valuable job referrals, expert resume assistance, and access to a wide array of job listings. Visit mass.gov/CareerCenters. Visit here.
Note: The unemployment rate is based on a household survey, while job estimates come from an employer survey. Because these surveys are separate, the two statistics may show different trends from month to month. The Unemployment and Jobs Report for August is scheduled for released on September 19, 2025.
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