Overall unemployment rate moved down to 4.7% with the biggest shift in Education & Healthcare, which gained 11,800 roles, based on the most recently available information published in December 2021.

Total employment in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH market rose by 20,329 jobs in October and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 10 bps to 4.7%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 30 bps over the same time to 4.3%.

  • Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH unemployment rate is 44 bps above the national rate which is a negative sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 300 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in October versus prior month by 4.8% 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 October 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 1.5% . Key sectors include:

  • Education & Healthcare: 570,900; +11,800
  • Business Services: 536,100; +11,000
  • Transportation & Utilities: 406,400; +6,000
  • Government: 305,500; +5,000
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 232,700; +3,500
  • Manufacturing: 185,400; +2,200
  • Financial Services: 181,100; -800
  • Construction, Mining: 129,600; +600
  • Other Jobs: 89,400; +200
  • IT & Development: 83,000; +700
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH Unemployment by Industry October 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through October 2021 (Data published December 2021 and reports created on December 2, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.