BREAKING: MA unemployment jumps for 12th straight month to 4.6% in April

OUCH - undeniable upward trend

From March to April 1,100 more residents were employed and 6,700 more residents went unemployed, as the Massachusetts unemployment rate rose for the twelfth month in a row to 4.6% a full .4% above the national April average.

The unemployment has been on a tear upward over the last year rising 1.7% in the last twelve months, last April the rate was only 2.9%.

Government and government proxy sectors continue to crowd out private sector employment growth.

Year over year, the Government sector (+3800 jobs) and the Education and Health Services sector (+7600 jobs/government proxy) continue to gobble up most of the job growth with Financial Activities adding +1900 jobs.

According to the state:

“The April estimates show 3,763,100 Massachusetts residents were employed and 180,800 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,943,900. The unemployment rate at 4.6 percent was 0.2 percentage points higher than the revised March rate of 4.4 percent. Over-the-month, the April labor force increased by 7,800 from 3,936,100 in March, with 1,100 more residents employed and 6,700 more residents unemployed. The labor force participation rate, the share of the working age population employed and unemployed, increased by 0.1 percentage point to 66.7 percent. The labor force was up 52,800 from the April 2024 estimate of 3,891,100 following the annual revision, with 23,400 more employed residents, and 29,400 more unemployed residents.”

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities gained 4,400 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 900 were added.

Construction gained 1,200 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 4,400 were lost.

Education and Health Services gained 1,100 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 7,600 were added.

Financial Activities gained 600 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 1,900 were added.

Professional, Scientific, and Business Services gained 600 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 1,000 were lost.

Other Services gained 500 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 200 were added.

Manufacturing lost 100 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 2,000 were lost.

Government lost 100 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 3,800 were added.

Information lost 200 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 2,300 were lost.

Leisure and Hospitality lost 300 jobs over-the-month. Over-the-year, 900 were added.