Overall unemployment rate moved down to 5.9% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 4,900 roles, based on the most recently available information published in April 2021.

Total employment in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH market rose by 12,123 jobs in March and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 60 bps to 5.9%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 38 bps over the same time to 6.2%.

  • Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH unemployment rate is 28 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 300 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in March versus prior month by 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 March 2021

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

  • Education & Healthcare: 558,600; +3,700
  • Business Services: 502,400; +200
  • Transportation & Utilities: 395,300; no change
  • Government: 301,700; +2,600
  • Financial Services: 181,500; +200
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 178,600; +4,900
  • Manufacturing: 177,900; +1,500
  • Construction, Mining: 112,900; +1,100
  • Other Jobs: 83,600; +300
  • IT & Development: 79,000; +600
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH Unemployment by Industry March 2021

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

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.