Overall unemployment rate moved up to 5.3% with the biggest shift in Government, which lost 16,000 roles, based on the most recently available information published in September 2021.

Total employment in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH market rose by 12,167 jobs in July and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 30 bps to 5.3%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 43 bps over the same time to 5.7%.

  • Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH unemployment rate is 36 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 460 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in July versus prior month by 3.4% 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 July 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.6% . Key sectors include:

  • Education & Healthcare: 557,400; +4,100
  • Business Services: 531,700; +5,700
  • Transportation & Utilities: 401,700; -3,400
  • Government: 280,300; -16,000
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 244,400; +13,700
  • Financial Services: 183,900; +100
  • Manufacturing: 183,400; +1,500
  • Construction, Mining: 129,000; +3,400
  • Other Jobs: 93,000; +4,200
  • IT & Development: 83,000; +2,600
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH Unemployment by Industry July 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through July 2021 (Data published September 2021 and reports created on September 1, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.