The local unemployment rates are released by the State Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The latest figures show that Greater New Bedford still leads the State with the highest rate at 11.5%, which is about a half of percentage point lower than the previous month but the same rate as a year ago.
If you’ve been struggling to find a new job, get that first job out of college or get back to work, perhaps it’s a change of location you need. The unemployment rate is not equal across the states, and for all the tough economic news of the past several years, things aren't all that bad in certain places.
The state is out with a mixed jobs report showing Massachusetts gained 5,100 jobs in September, even as the unemployment rate crept up two-tenths of a point to 6.5 percent.
The Massachusetts unemployment rate edged up two-tenths of a points in August while preliminary figures show the state losing about 4,800 jobs during the month.