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 bandy around the idea of a by 2023. The last economic recession鈥攖he Great Recession of 2008-2010鈥攕ent rates up to 10% as of October 2009. It was 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 , 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, compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rate in Massachusetts using data from the . Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in September 2022.
#14. Middlesex County
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.6%
- Total labor force: 904,773 (22,945 unemployed)
#13. Franklin County
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -1.6%
- Total labor force: 39,528 (1,040 unemployed)
#12. Nantucket
--- 1 month change: +0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 8,635 (224 unemployed)
#11. Hampshire County
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 88,526 (2,417 unemployed)
#10. Norfolk County
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 389,623 (11,025 unemployed)
#9. Dukes County
--- 1 month change: +0.2%
--- 1 year change: -1.3%
- Total labor force: 9,883 (293 unemployed)
#8. Suffolk County
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -2.4%
- Total labor force: 449,296 (13,528 unemployed)
#7. Plymouth County
--- 1 month change: -0.4%
--- 1 year change: -2.1%
- Total labor force: 279,322 (9,002 unemployed)
#6. Barnstable County
--- 1 month change: 0.0%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 109,090 (3,607 unemployed)
#5. Worcester County
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.9%
- Total labor force: 430,095 (14,199 unemployed)
#4. Essex County
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -2.1%
- Total labor force: 413,602 (13,991 unemployed)
#3. Berkshire County
--- 1 month change: -0.3%
--- 1 year change: -2.0%
- Total labor force: 59,034 (2,144 unemployed)
#2. Bristol County
--- 1 month change: -0.5%
--- 1 year change: -1.8%
- Total labor force: 293,372 (11,050 unemployed)
#1. Hampden County
--- 1 month change: -0.7%
--- 1 year change: -2.6%
- Total labor force: 221,493 (9,360 unemployed)
