Local New Bedford May Unemployment Rate Up

Greater New Bedford's unemployment rate is the second highest in the state for the month of May. The rate is 10 point 3 per cent which is up 3 tenths of a point from April.

The Greater Lawrence Methuen area has the top rate in the state. In terms of actual numbers, the Greater New Bedford labor force increased by 500 workers while the number of people employed increased by about 200. The number of unemployed residents of Greater New Bedford was 300 workers more than in April of 2013.

The city of New Bedford's rate for May is 12 point 9 per cent, up a half a percentage point from the previous month.