BOSTON - Tuesday, November 23, 2010 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported that the October seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates were down in eighteen of the twenty-two labor market areas, unchanged in the Barnstable area and up seasonally in the MA portion of Providence-Fall River-Warwick, Nantucket and Tisbury areas. Statewide the October seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate dropped from 8.0 percent in September to 7.7 percent in October.

Over-the-year, unemployment rates were lower in twenty-one areas and up seasonally in the Tisbury area. Over-the-year, the state unadjusted unemployment rate was down one percent from the 8.7 percent rate in October 2009.

Eight of the twelve areas added jobs as gains were realized in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy; Worcester; Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton; Peabody, New Bedford, Springfield, Leominster-Fitchburg-Gardner, and Lowell areas, while jobs were unchanged in the Haverhill and Pittsfield areas and down in the remaining two areas in October. Over-the-year, six areas added jobs.

The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate released on November 18th showed a 10,000 job gain. The Commonwealth has added 47,900 jobs since December. The seasonally adjusted statewide October 2010 unemployment rate of 8.1 percent was down from the 8.4 percent rate in September, the lowest unemployment rate since April 2009 and the steepest two-month consecutive drop since 1976. Massachusetts statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remains well below the national rate of 9.6%.

The unadjusted unemployment rates and job estimates for the labor market areas reflect seasonal fluctuations and therefore may show different levels and trends than the statewide seasonally adjusted estimates.

NOTES: The November 2010 unemployment rate, labor force data and jobs estimates for Massachusetts will be released on December 16, 2010; local unemployment statistics will be released on December 21, 2010. Detailed labor market information is available at www.mass.gov/lmi. See the Revised March, 2010 Media Advisory annual schedule for complete listing of release dates.