BOSTON - Tuesday, January 26, 2010 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported that unemployment rates were higher in December than in November in all of the Commonwealth's twenty two labor market areas.  Statewide, the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate increased from 8.3 percent in November to 9.1 percent in December.

Job gains were recorded in three of the Commonwealth's twelve areas for which unadjusted job estimates were published.  The Framingham, Pittsfield and Springfield areas added jobs with the highest over the month percentage increase in jobs in the Pittsfield area. Job losses were recorded in nine areas. Over the year, all of the labor areas recorded increases in unemployment rates and job losses.

Statewide the seasonally adjusted December 2009 unemployment rate, released last week, rose from 8.7 percent in November to 9.4 percent in December. Statewide, the seasonally adjusted jobs estimate for December showed 8,400 jobs lost over the month. The unadjusted unemployment rates and jobs estimates for the labor markets may show different levels and trends than the statewide seasonally adjusted estimates.

NOTES: The January 2010 unemployment rate, labor force data and survey of jobs for Massachusetts will be released on March 4, 2010; local unemployment statistics will be released on March 9, 2010. Detailed labor market information is available at www.mass.gov/lmi.