BOSTON - Tuesday, September 23, 2008 --- Preliminary estimates show that unemployment rates, which are not adjusted for seasonality, were lower in 11 Massachusetts' labor market areas in August than in July, according to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.  Additional estimates show the statewide seasonally unadjusted rate edged down to 5.1 percent in August.

The largest over the month unemployment rate decline was reported in the Amherst labor market area, due to seasonal reopening of schools, universities and colleges. Unemployment rates remained unchanged in eight areas over the month, while just three others recorded rate increases.

The Framingham labor market area, which added 1,800 jobs for a growth rate of +1.1 percent over the year, posted the second largest employment gain over the year and the highest annual growth rate of all of the labor market areas.  The Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton and Peabody areas also added jobs over the year. Over the month, jobs increased in the Peabody area while the remaining eleven labor areas for which job estimates are produced posted seasonal job losses. The job estimates for the labor market areas are not adjusted for seasonality and may show some differences from the seasonally adjusted job estimates and unemployment rates released last week.

Statewide, the preliminary seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate edged down to 5.1 percent in August from 5.2 percent in July.

The statewide seasonally adjusted August 2008 unemployment rate edged up in August to 5.3 percent from the revised 5.0 percent rate in July. Job estimates show Massachusetts added jobs in August and continues to gain jobs over the year, contrasting with the national economy which has shed jobs during this time. Estimates show that seven sectors posted job gains over the month in August, with the largest gain in leisure and hospitality, along with gains in professional, scientific and business services as well as in education and health services, manufacturing and construction.

NOTES: The September 2008 unemployment rate, labor force data and survey of jobs for Massachusetts will be released on October 16, 2008, local unemployment statistics will be released on October 21, 2008. Detailed labor market information is available at www.mass.gov/lmi.

*With the release of the January 2008 estimates, the data for the Pittsfield and Leominster-Fitchburg-Gardner NECTA areas are no longer validated by US DOL BLS and the historical sub-state Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) series for 2007 have been revised. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Metropolitan New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs) must have an urbanized area population of 50,000 or more, while a Micropolitan NECTA must have an urban cluster population of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000. A NECTA containing a single core with a population of at least 2.5 million may be subdivided to smaller groupings of cities and towns referred to as NECTA Divisions.