Overall unemployment rate moved up to 5.5% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 14,500 roles, based on the most recently available information published in June 2021.

Total employment in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH market rose by 10,207 jobs in May and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 10 bps to 5.5%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 25 bps over the same time to 5.5%.

  • Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH unemployment rate is 0 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 950 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in May versus prior month by 2.1% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH Unemployment May 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.7% . Key sectors include:

  • Education & Healthcare: 553,900; -6,500
  • Business Services: 518,000; +3,200
  • Transportation & Utilities: 399,500; +2,200
  • Government: 302,500; -200
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 207,700; +14,500
  • Financial Services: 183,000; +300
  • Manufacturing: 178,300; +100
  • Construction, Mining: 122,100; +4,700
  • Other Jobs: 85,900; +700
  • IT & Development: 79,400; -200
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH Unemployment by Industry May 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through May 2021 (Data published June 2021 and reports created on June 30, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.