Massachusetts Unemployment Improves to 4.7% in September
BOSTON – Today, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) released Massachusetts unemployment and job estimates for September, with data indicating 1,200 fewer Massachusetts residents were employed, including individuals in private and non-profit jobs plus self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs, while payroll jobs decreased by 11,100. Additionally, the unemployment rate (4.7%) and labor force participation rate (66.8%) both decreased. The labor force decreased in September as well by 2,700 for a total of approximately 3,961,000.
October State Employment and Unemployment or Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news releases will not be published due to the shutdown. November unemployment and job estimates have not been scheduled by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Despite a net loss in payroll jobs in September, there was some positive growth in BLS categories including 1) Leisure and Hospitality (+1,800), 2) Information (+300), and 3) Financial Activities (+200). In addition to payroll data, BLS also reports data that indicates 1,200 fewer Massachusetts residents were employed in September and 20,000 more were employed over-the-year. Unlike payroll data, employed residents data includes individuals who are self-employed (e.g. contractors, physicians, and drivers) and is not captured in payroll job data.
"The data released today tells us less about what’s happening now, and more about what was happening a few months ago,” said EOLWD’s Department of Economic Research Chief Economist Mark Rembert. “The good news is that the key labor market indicators that we do have for October and November have been stable. Seasonally adjusted initial unemployment insurance claims remain relatively flat, and job posting activity has been steady.”
Building on the Healey-Driscoll administration’s workforce agenda, collaboration continues with a focus on attracting, retaining, and developing talent in Massachusetts. A few recent highlights that connect to this strategy includes:
- Last week, Governor Healey convened the first meeting of the Massachusetts Competitiveness Council, bringing together more than 20 leaders from business, labor, research, and state government to develop strategies that strengthen the state's long-term economic competitiveness.
- The administration recently awarded $2.1 million to expand apprenticeship in Massachusetts and train and place more than 300 apprentices and pre-apprentices across the state in industries such as health care and manufacturing.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE MONTHLY JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT REPORT
- The Massachusetts unemployment rate in September decreased to 4.7 percent.
- The state’s labor force participation rate decreased to 66.8 percent. Since January 2023, Massachusetts labor force has increased by 192,000, a 5.1 percent change which places Massachusetts in the top 5 among states.
- 1,300 fewer residents were unemployed in September.
For a detailed overview of the BLS data, please visit mass.gov/economicresearch and September BLS Unemployment and Jobs Estimates.
Labor Market Quick Links
Massachusetts Labor Market Data & Resources
Visit mass.gov/EconomicResearch to explore dashboards and access labor market data, trends, and research insights. Find information about unemployment, labor force participation, occupations, industries, and more for Massachusetts and its regions.
Learn about the different types of labor market information (LMI) resources offered by the Department of Economic Research.
Black/African American Equity Dashboard
The Massachusetts Black/African American Equity Dashboard utilizes the most recently available American Community Survey (ACS) data (2019-2023) to provide a comprehensive view of employment-related insights including demographics, industry/occupation representation, wages, and more. EOLWD’s Department of Economic Research released updates to this dashboard in October 2025.
Employer and Jobseeker Resources
MassHire career centers and online services are available for jobseekers in between jobs, seeking a new opportunity, or aiming for career growth. MassHire’s comprehensive services include personalized career guidance, informative workshops, specialized training programs, valuable job referrals, expert resume assistance, and access to a wide array of job listings. Visit mass.gov/CareerCenters. Visit here.
Employers looking to promote job openings, recruit for talent, or explore available job training programs to attract, retain, or develop their workforce can benefit from the menu of employer resources available through MassHire. Visit mass.gov/Workforce.
Note: The unemployment rate is based on a household survey, while job estimates come from an employer survey. Because these surveys are separate, the two statistics may show different trends from month to month.
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