Overall unemployment rate moved up to 5.0% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 21,100 roles, based on the most recently available information published in July 2021.

Total employment in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH market rose by 20,070 jobs in June and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 40 bps to 5.0%. The national unemployment rate increased by 60 bps over the same time to 6.1%.

  • Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH unemployment rate is 109 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 930 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in June versus prior month by 2.5% and are down 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 June 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 1.6% . Key sectors include:

  • Education & Healthcare: 552,000; -1,400
  • Business Services: 526,900; +8,900
  • Transportation & Utilities: 405,500; +5,700
  • Government: 299,400; -3,100
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 229,200; +21,100
  • Financial Services: 183,300; +500
  • Manufacturing: 181,000; +2,900
  • Construction, Mining: 125,500; +2,300
  • Other Jobs: 88,600; +2,600
  • IT & Development: 80,700; +1,300
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH Unemployment by Industry June 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through June 2021 (Data published July 2021 and reports created on July 28, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.