Massachusetts’ unemployment rate hit 5.4% among residents aged 16 and 65 years old in 2021. That’s 209,959 people out of the 6,991,852 living in Massachusetts at the time, according to data U.S. Census Bureau data obtained on Oct. 26, 2023.
The unemployment rate in Massachusetts has increased compared to the 5.1% registered in 2020.
The percentage of people unemployed in Massachusetts was nearly equal to the national unemployment rate of 5.5%.
Of the 3,672,525 people who had a job during that time, 5,506 were employed in the Armed Forces and 3,667,019 belonged to the civilian labor force.
Employment Status in Massachusetts During 2021
| Employment status | Number of people | Percentage of population |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployed | 209,959 | 5.4% |
| Employed | 3,672,525 | 94.6% |
| Employed in civilian labor force | 3,667,019 | 94.5% |
| Employed in armed forces | 5,506 | 0.1% |
