We all know that times are tough right now in this country. Do any of you fellow Massachusetts residents have a friend or family member who is currently out of work? Perhaps you're currently looking for work.

The unemployment rate is sky-high, not just in Massachusetts, but across the country. The jobless numbers are not as high as they were during the pandemic, but they're up there nonetheless.

Recently, Stacker took a look at the numbers and came up with a very interesting report on the unemployed here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The counties in the Bay State with the highest unemployment rates just might surprise you.

According to Stacker, the last recession before the pandemic, from 2007 through 2009, saw unemployment rates zoom up to 10% and took years to recover from. As bad as things seem, however, as of January 2024 the national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.7%. That's only up slightly from January 2023.

Exactly Which 5 Counties In Massachusetts Have The Highest Unemployment Rates?

Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...

5. Bristol County

The county that houses such cities as New Bedford, Fall River, and Attleboro had, according to Stacker, a December unemployment rate of 4.1%. Out of a labor force of almost 300,000 people, over 12,000 were unemployed.

Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...

4. Hampden County

With several well-populated cities and towns such as Westfield, Springfield, and Chicopee, Hampden County is by far the most populated county in western Massachusetts. With a labor force of approximately 220,000 people, just under 10,000 are unemployed leading to an unemployment rate of 4.4%

Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...

3. Barnstable County

Barnstable County is home to Falmouth, Chatham, Provincetown, and other great cities right on the water (or close to it!). Out of a labor force of approximately 108,000 people, over 5,000 are unemployed leading to an unemployment rate of 4.9%.

Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...
WBEC AM logo
Get our free mobile app

2. Dukes County

Dukes County has one of the smallest populations in the Bay State but has some of the most beautiful towns like Tisbury, West Tisbury, and Edgartown. Dukes County has an unemployment rate of 5.9%. With a total labor force of approximately 8,500 people, just over 500 are jobless.

Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...

1. Nantucket County

Without question the least populated county in the Commonwealth. Out of a labor force of approximately 7,500 people, over 600 are unemployed. That leads to an unemployment rate of 8.6%

But What About Berkshire County?

I'm so glad you asked...

Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...

6. Berkshire County

The Beautiful Berkshires just missed the top 5 coming in with the 6th highest unemployment rate in Massachusetts. With a labor force of just over 60,350 people, approximately 2,300 are unemployed leading to a rate of 3.8%.

Visit Stacker's website here for the full lowdown, stats, and facts.

See the Must-Drive Roads in Every State

Gallery Credit: Sarah Jones

LOOK: See how much gasoline cost the year you started driving

To find out more about how has the price of gas changed throughout the years, Stacker ran the numbers on the cost of a gallon of gasoline for each of the last 84 years. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in April 2020), we analyzed the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline from 1976 to 2020 along with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for unleaded regular gasoline from 1937 to 1976, including the absolute and inflation-adjusted prices for each year.

Read on to explore the cost of gas over time and rediscover just how much a gallon was when you first started driving.

Gallery Credit: Sophia Crisafulli

LOOK: Route 66’s quirkiest and most wonderful attractions state by state

Stacker compiled a list of 50 attractions--state by state--to see along the drive, drawing on information from historic sites, news stories, Roadside America, and the National Park Service. Keep reading to discover where travelers can get their kicks on Route 66.

Gallery Credit: Kery Wiginton

LOOK: See the iconic cars that debuted the year you were born

More From WBEC AM