Local Unemployment

The local unemployment rates released by the State shows some good news for Greater New Bedford. State officials say that the area was one of 11 areas across the state with the largest per centage of employment gains from March to April. In April,

New Bedford's un employment  rate was 8 point 6 per cent, second highest in the state behind the Lawrence Methuen area which has the highest rate in the state at 8.9..

Since a year ago, Greater New Bedford's unemployment rate dropped close to 2 per centage points from 10 point 4 to 8 point 6.