Massachusetts gained 3,500 jobs in September, its jobless rate was unchanged, and its labor force grew, according to preliminary data from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
“There were several positive labor market signals in September,” said Mark Rembert, chief economist at the Department of Economic Research. “Jobs grew, the unemployment rate remained stable, the labor force participation rate increased, and the labor force saw the largest monthly increase in more than 2 years.”
The state labor force rose by 8,400 in September with 7,800 more residents employed and 600 more unemployed. The state’s labor force participation rate was 65.4% last month – up from August’s 65.3% – and the U.S. rate was 61.8%.
Massachusetts’ unemployment rate held steady at 4.3% and the national unemployment rate was 4.2% in September.
According to the labor office’s data, sectors seeing job growth last month were financial activities (up 2,500); professional and business services (up 2,400); trade, transportation and utilities (up 2,000); government (up 700); and other services (up 600). Sectors reporting job losses were private education and health services (down 1,600); leisure and hospitality (down 1,500); manufacturing (down 1,200); construction (down 300); and information (down 100).
The labor office revised its August estimate to a loss of 5,600 jobs, up from the initially reported loss of 7,100 jobs. State data shows Massachusetts has netted 16,300 new jobs since September 2025. October 2025 data are missing due to a federal government shutdown.
