Massachusetts Unemployment Rate Rises as Job Growth Stalls

The Massachusetts unemployment rate for February, the most recent month for which data is available, inched up from January's rate, according to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD).

Massachusetts Unemployment Rate Edges Higher

The February jobless rate was 4.8 percent, up slightly from January's 4.7 percent. The state's jobless rate for February 2025 was 4.3 percent.

The Massachusetts unemployment rate is always a month behind the national rate, which was 4.4 percent for March.

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Job Growth Streak Comes to an End

The EOLWD said preliminary data indicate that "payroll jobs decreased by 7,200 for the month, following a revised increase of 2,000 in January." Massachusetts "added payroll jobs for four consecutive months."

The preliminary data also showed that the "labor force participation rate decreased slightly to 66 percent from a revised January rate of 66.2 percent."

State House News Service reported, "Massachusetts' four-month streak of job gains ended in February."

Which Sectors Lost and Gained Jobs

Sectors that experienced job losses in February included education, health services, trade, transportation, utilities, leisure, hospitality, manufacturing, and professional and business services.

Gains were reported in several employment sectors, including information, financial activities, government, and construction.

"The data released today tells us less about what's happening now, and more about what was happening a few months ago," EOLWD's Department of Research Chief Economist Mark Rembert said in a statement.

Economic Concerns and Out-Migration Trends

The disappointing jobs report comes amid out-migration by residents and businesses. High taxes and high utility costs are often cited as reasons for the exodus. Massachusetts has reportedly lost substantial payroll revenue due to out-migration.