Overall unemployment rate moved down to 5.0% with the biggest shift in Financial Services, which lost 2,200 roles, based on the most recently available information published in September 2021.

Total employment in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH market rose by 10,199 jobs in August and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 30 bps to 5.0%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 38 bps over the same time to 5.3%.

  • Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH unemployment rate is 29 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 390 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in August versus prior month by 4.4% 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 August 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.1%. Key sectors include:

  • Education & Healthcare: 555,400; -1,500
  • Business Services: 530,300; -1,400
  • Transportation & Utilities: 402,600; +100
  • Government: 272,200; -1,000
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 246,800; +1,900
  • Manufacturing: 184,000; +200
  • Financial Services: 181,700; -2,200
  • Construction, Mining: 130,400; +1,200
  • Other Jobs: 93,300; +100
  • IT & Development: 82,500; -300
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH Unemployment by Industry August 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through August 2021 (Data published September 2021 and reports created on September 29, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.