The state’s July total unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.9 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts gained 43,400 jobs in July. This follows last month’s gain of 11,200 jobs. Over the month, the private sector added 30,700 jobs as gains occurred across seven sectors, led by Leisure and Hospitality and Professional, Scientific and Business Services. Since December 2020, Massachusetts has gained 146,400 jobs.
From July 2020 to July 2021, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 254,200 jobs. Gains occurred in all sectors led by Leisure and Hospitality; Professional, Scientific, and Business Services; and Trade, Transportation and Utilities with greater than 40,000 jobs gained over the year.
The July unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage point below the national rate of 5.4 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The labor force increased by 4,900 from 3,696,700 in June, as 5,000 more residents were employed and 100 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.
Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down by 4.9 percentage points.
The state’s labor force participation rate – the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks – was up 0.1 percentage point at 65.6 percent following a revision to the June rate of 65.5 percent. Compared to July 2020, the labor force participation rate is up 2.5 percentage points.
July 2021 Employment Overview:
Leisure and Hospitality gained 19,400 (+6.8%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 83,600 (+37.9%) jobs were added.
Government gained 12,700 (+2.9%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 10,000 (+2.3%) jobs were added.
Professional and Business Services gained 8,000 (+1.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 44,400 (+7.8%) jobs were added.
Manufacturing gained 3,100 (+1.3%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 10,900 (+4.8%) jobs were added.
Construction gained 2,200 jobs (+1.3%) over the month. Over the year, 15,300 (+10.2%) jobs were added.
Information gained 1,800 (+2.0%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 7,200 (+8.4%) jobs were added.
Financial Activities gained 400 (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 4,300 (+2.0%) jobs were added.
Other Services lost 100 jobs (-0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 10,500 (+10.1%) jobs were added.
Trade, Transportation and Utilities lost 300 (-0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 43,100 (+8.4%) jobs were added.
Education and Health Services lost 3,800 (-0.5%) jobs over the month. Over the year, 24,900 (+3.4%) jobs were added.
Labor Force Overview
The July estimates show 3,521,200 Massachusetts residents were employed and 180,500 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,701,600. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.9 percent. Over the month, the July labor force was up by 4,900 from 3,696,700 in June, with 5,000 more residents employed and 100 fewer residents unemployed. The labor force participation rate, the share of working-age population employed and unemployed, was 65.6 percent. The labor force was up 138,500 from the 3,563,100 July 2020 estimate, as 307,900 more residents were employed and 169,400 fewer residents were unemployed.
The unemployment rate is based on a monthly sample of households. The job estimates are derived from a monthly sample survey of employers. As a result, the two statistics may exhibit different monthly trends.
Notes:
The labor force is the sum of the numbers of employed residents and those unemployed, that is residents not working but actively seeking work in the last four weeks. Estimates may not add up to the total labor force due to rounding.
For further information on seasonal adjustment methodology, please refer to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website https://www.bls.gov.
Local area unemployment statistics for July 2021 will be released on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. The preliminary August 2021 and revised July 2021 unemployment rate, labor force and job estimates for Massachusetts will be released on Friday, September 17, 2021. See the 2021 Media Advisory annual schedule for a complete list of release dates.