Overall unemployment rate moved down to 5.4% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 15,100 roles, based on the most recently available information published in June 2021.

Total employment in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH market rose by 11,769 jobs in April and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 50 bps to 5.4%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 43 bps over the same time to 5.7%.

  • Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH unemployment rate is 35 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 1,020 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) declined in April versus prior month by -0.7% 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 April 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 1.5% . Key sectors include:

  • Education & Healthcare: 560,800; +2,300
  • Business Services: 513,600; +10,800
  • Transportation & Utilities: 397,600; +1,400
  • Government: 302,600; +1,400
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 193,700; +15,100
  • Financial Services: 182,400; +800
  • Manufacturing: 178,400; +500
  • Construction, Mining: 117,400; +4,200
  • Other Jobs: 85,100; +1,500
  • IT & Development: 79,400; +700
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH Unemployment by Industry April 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through April 2021 (Data published June 2021 and reports created on June 2, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.