Overall unemployment rate moved down to 4.3% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which lost 8,100 roles, based on the most recently available information published in December 2021.

Total employment in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH market rose by 35,841 jobs in November and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 40 bps to 4.3%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 37 bps over the same time to 3.9%.

  • Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH unemployment rate is 41 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 290 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in November versus prior month by 2.4% 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 November 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.3% . Key sectors include:

  • Education & Healthcare: 573,800; +4,200
  • Business Services: 539,500; +2,900
  • Transportation & Utilities: 411,900; +5,300
  • Government: 306,400; +1,600
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 223,700; -8,100
  • Manufacturing: 186,000; +900
  • Financial Services: 181,100; -100
  • Construction, Mining: 130,100; +400
  • Other Jobs: 91,200; +800
  • IT & Development: 83,100; +100
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH Unemployment by Industry November 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through November 2021 (Data published December 2021 and reports created on January 6, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.