BOSTON, MA – December 16, 2022 – The state’s November total unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point over-the-month, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday.

 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts gained 17,300 jobs in November. This follows last month’s revised gain of 10,000 jobs.

 

The largest over the month private sector job gains were in Leisure and Hospitality, Education and Health Services, and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities. Employment now stands at 3,710,600.  Since the employment trough in April 2020, Massachusetts gained 677,100 jobs.

 

From November 2021 to November 2022, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 144,200 jobs. The largest over the year gains occurred in Leisure and Hospitality, Education and Health Services, and Professional and Business Services. 

 

The November unemployment rate of 3.4 percent was three-tenths of a percentage point below the national rate of 3.7 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

 

The labor force decreased by an estimated 13,000 from 3,745,600 in October, with 7,300 fewer residents employed, and 5,800 fewer residents unemployed over-the-month.

 

Over-the-year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down by 1.4 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 – dropped by 0.2 percentage point at 65.3 percent over-the-month. Compared to November 2021, the labor force participation rate was down three-tenths of a percentage point.