Press Release: 2019-06-24

Massachusetts Unemployment and Job Estimates for May 2019

BOSTON — The state’s May total unemployment rate is up one-tenth of a percentage point at 3.0 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts lost 3,600 jobs in May. Over the month, the private sector lost 4,000 jobs, although gains occurred in Professional, Scientific, and Business Services; Information; and Manufacturing. The jobs level in Other Services remained unchanged over the month. Government added jobs over the month.

From May 2018 to May 2019, BLS estimates Massachusetts added 26,700 jobs. 

The May unemployment rate was six-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.6 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Massachusetts continues to experience a strong economy with a low unemployment rate of 3.0 percent and over 60,000 more employed residents and 17,500 fewer unemployed residents in the last year. Also, the Commonwealth’s labor force participation rate remains at a near 15 year high and is 5 points above the US rate.” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta said.

The labor force increased by 600 from 3,840,400 in April, as 1,100 fewer residents were employed and 1,700 more residents were unemployed over the month.

Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped five-tenths of a percentage point.

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 – remained unchanged at 67.8 percent. Compared to May 2018, the labor force participation rate is up three-tenths of a percentage point. 

The largest private sector percentage job gains over the year were in Information; Education and Health Services; Other Services; and Professional, Scientific, and Business Services.

May 2019 Employment Overview

Professional, Scientific and Business Services added 1,000 (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Professional, Scientific and Business Services gained 7,100 (+1.2%) jobs.

Information added 400 (+0.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Information gained 1,900 (+2.1%) jobs.

Manufacturing gained 100 (0.0%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Manufacturing lost 1,800 (-0.7%) jobs.

Other Services jobs level remained unchanged over the month. Over the year, Other Services are up 2,300 (+1.7%) jobs.

Trade, Transportation and Utilities lost 2,300 (-0.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Trade, Transportation and Utilities lost 600 (-0.1%) jobs.

Construction lost 2,300 (-1.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Construction has lost 700 (-0.4%) jobs.

Leisure and Hospitality lost 400 (-0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Leisure and Hospitality added 200 (+0.1%) jobs.

Education and Health Services lost 300 (0.0%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Education and Health Services gained 14,300 (+1.8%) jobs. 

Financial Activities lost 100 (0.0%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Financial Activities lost 100 (0.0%) jobs.

Government added 400 (+0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Government gained 4,200 (+0.9%) jobs.

Labor Force Overview

The May estimates show 3,727,000 Massachusetts residents were employed and 114,000 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,840,900. The unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.0 percent. The May labor force increased by 600 as 1,100 fewer residents were employed and 1,700 more residents were unemployed over the month. The labor force participation rate, the share of working age population employed and unemployed, remained unchanged at 67.8 percent. The labor force was up 42,200 from the 3,798,800 May 2018 estimate, with 60,100 more residents employed and 17,900 fewer residents 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.

Local area unemployment statistics for May 2019 will be released on Tuesday, June 25, 2019. The preliminary June 2019 and revised May 2019 unemployment rate, labor force and job estimates for Massachusetts will be released on Friday, July 19, 2019. See the 2019 Media Advisory annual schedulefor a complete list of release dates.

Detailed labor market information is available at www.mass.gov/lmi.

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