Counties with the highest unemployment rate in Massachusetts

Written by:
November 15, 2022
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Counties with the highest unemployment rate in Massachusetts

Unemployment rates, while significantly lower than the alarming pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, remain a subject of concern, notably as economic experts bandy around the idea of a potential recession by 2023. The last economic recession—the Great Recession of 2008-2010—sent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was not until the spring of 2019 that unemployment finally went down to the same level it sits at now.

As of October of this year, national unemployment is at 3.7%, 0.2% higher than in September. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 2.0% in Minnesota, to 4.5% in Illinois and 4.7% in the District of Columbia. Further breakdown by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows yet another county-based spectrum within each state.

To that end, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rate in Massachusetts using data from the BLS. Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in September 2022.

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#14. Middlesex County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.5%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.6%
- Total labor force: 904,773 (22,945 unemployed)

#13. Franklin County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -1.6%
- Total labor force: 39,528 (1,040 unemployed)

#12. Nantucket

- Current unemployment rate: 2.6%
--- 1 month change: +0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 8,635 (224 unemployed)

#11. Hampshire County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.7%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 88,526 (2,417 unemployed)

#10. Norfolk County

- Current unemployment rate: 2.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 389,623 (11,025 unemployed)
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#9. Dukes County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: +0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 9,883 (293 unemployed)

#8. Suffolk County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.0%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -2.4%
- Total labor force: 449,296 (13,528 unemployed)

#7. Plymouth County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -2.1%
- Total labor force: 279,322 (9,002 unemployed)

#6. Barnstable County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 109,090 (3,607 unemployed)

#5. Worcester County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.3%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.9%
- Total labor force: 430,095 (14,199 unemployed)
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#4. Essex County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.4%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -2.1%
- Total labor force: 413,602 (13,991 unemployed)

#3. Berkshire County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.6%
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -2.0%
- Total labor force: 59,034 (2,144 unemployed)

#2. Bristol County

- Current unemployment rate: 3.8%
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 293,372 (11,050 unemployed)

#1. Hampden County

- Current unemployment rate: 4.2%
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -2.6%
- Total labor force: 221,493 (9,360 unemployed)

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