US Massachusetts Unemployment Rate
US Massachusetts Unemployment Rate stood at 4.3% in Aug 2026, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). It is one of the indicators in the Unemployment and labour force by state table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1976 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Unemployment and labour force by state table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast region | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | |
| New England division | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | |
| Massachusetts | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
Understanding US Massachusetts Unemployment Rate
The US Massachusetts Unemployment Rate measures the percentage of the civilian labor force in Massachusetts that is unemployed and actively seeking employment. This indicator reflects the state's distinct economic profile, heavily weighted toward higher education, biotechnology, healthcare, and professional services, separating its labor market performance from neighboring states or broader regional aggregates. It excludes individuals who are not actively looking for work, institutionalized residents, and military personnel.
Published monthly, the series is routinely revised as statistical models incorporate updated survey responses and comprehensive administrative records. The state's labor market experiences distinct seasonal cycles tied to the academic calendar and regional construction activity, necessitating the use of seasonally adjusted data for accurate evaluation. To determine the true trajectory of employment conditions, analysts rely on year-on-year comparisons, which effectively smooth out the transient monthly noise characteristic of state-level data.