Overall unemployment rate moved down to 3.4% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 8,400 roles, based on the most recently available information published in May 2023.

Total employment in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH market declined by 5,240 jobs in March and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 30 bps to 3.4%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 27 bps over the same time to 3.6%.

  • Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH unemployment rate is 22 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is equal to the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in March versus prior month by 0.3% 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 2023

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.8% . Key sectors include:

  • Education & Healthcare: 617,900; +7,200
  • Business Services: 542,600; +3,000
  • Transportation & Utilities: 406,000; -1,100
  • Government: 313,800; +400
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 248,200; +8,400
  • Financial Services: 189,200; -200
  • Manufacturing: 182,000; +200
  • Construction, Mining: 124,700; +2,800
  • Other Jobs: 100,400; +800
  • IT & Development: 84,200; -100
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH Unemployment by Industry March 2023

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through March 2023 (Data published May 2023 and reports created on May 9,2023).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.