Berkshires Unemployment Rate Higher than Mass. Rate

The state’s June total unemployment rate is down one-tenth of a percentage point at 4.9 percent following a revision to the May unemployment rate of 5.0 percent, according to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has revised its model to better capture the effect of the pandemic resulting in revisions to additional earlier calculations.  

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary job estimates indicates Massachusetts gained 9,400 jobs in June. This follows last month’s gain of 9,200 jobs. Over the month, the private sector added 5,400 jobs as gains occurred across six sectors, led by Leisure and Hospitality and Education and Health Services. Since December 2020, Massachusetts has gained 101,200 jobs. 

From June 2020 to June 2021, BLS estimates Massachusetts gained 292,800 jobs. Gains occurred in all sectors led by Leisure and Hospitality and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities. 

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The June unemployment rate was 1.0 percentage point below the national rate of 5.9 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

The labor force increased by 4,900 from 3,702,100 in May, as 8,000 more residents were employed and 3,000 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. 
Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down by 9.9 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 – was up 0.1 percentage point at 65.7 percent following a revision to the May rate of 65.6 percent. Compared to June 2020, the labor force participation rate is up 0.5 percentage point. 

The unemployment rate in Berkshire County is currently 7% according to information obtained from Mass.gov as per the state’s Department of Unemployment Assistance.   

You can find labor market information for Massachusetts by County HERE.