Overall unemployment rate moved down to 2.9% with the biggest shift in Government, which gained 18,000 roles, based on the most recently available information published in November 2022.

Total employment in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH market declined by 40,310 jobs in September and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 30 bps to 2.9%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 47 bps over the same time to 3.3%.

  • Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH unemployment rate is 42 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 180 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in September versus prior month by 4.2% 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 September 2022

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs stayed flat. Key sectors include:

  • Education & Healthcare: 611,600; +13,800
  • Business Services: 548,800; -6,700
  • Transportation & Utilities: 412,000; -1,900
  • Government: 297,600; +18,000
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 260,800; -14,100
  • Manufacturing: 185,900; -900
  • Financial Services: 179,100; -2,200
  • Construction, Mining: 136,000; no change
  • Other Jobs: 94,000; -6,000
  • IT & Development: 87,700; -1,200
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH Unemployment by Industry September 2022

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through September 2022 (Data published November 2022 and reports created on November 2, 2022).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.