Overall unemployment rate moved down to 6.5% with the biggest shift in Education & Healthcare, which gained 10,000 roles, based on the most recently available information published in April 2021.
Total employment in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH market rose by 14,688 jobs in February and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 30 bps to 6.5%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 26 bps over the same time to 6.6%.
- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH unemployment rate is 5 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 360 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in February versus prior month by 6% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.8% . Key sectors include:
- Education & Healthcare: 553,700; +10,000
- Business Services: 502,000; +6,000
- Transportation & Utilities: 395,400; -4,300
- Government: 297,500; +3,500
- Financial Services: 181,500; +400
- Manufacturing: 176,500; +1,300
- Restaurants & Hotels: 173,000; +7,600
- Construction, Mining: 111,600; -2,500
- Other Jobs: 83,300; -600
- IT & Development: 78,300; -700
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through February 2021 (Data published April 2021 and reports created on April 9, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.