BOSTON - Thursday, March 11, 2010 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported that unemployment rates were higher in January both over the month and over the year (January 2009 - January 2010) in all of the Commonwealth's twenty-two labor market areas.  

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.

Statewide, the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate increased from 9.1 percent in December 2009 to 10.4 percent in January 2010. Over the year, the unadjusted unemployment rate is now up 2.5 percent from the 7.9 percent rate in January 2009. This type of fluctuation is common at this time of the year. By comparison, the unadjusted unemployment rate in December 2008 was 6.4 percent and it rose to 9.1 percent in January 2009.

Job losses were recorded in all of the Commonwealth's twelve areas, but eight of these areas had lower over the month job losses than during the same time last year.  The eight areas are Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Pittsfield, Barnstable, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, New Bedford, Worcester, Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford and Peabody. The Barnstable area added 200 jobs over the year due to gains in Leisure and Hospitality and Education and Health Services offsetting the losses in the other sectors. The remaining eleven areas all lost jobs over the year.

The seasonally adjusted statewide January 2010 unemployment rate, released on March 4th, rose from 9.3 percent in December 2009 to 9.5 percent in January 2010. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate for January 2010, also released on March 4th, showed a gain of 400 jobs over the month.

NOTES: The local unemployment rates and labor force estimates have been revised for 2009; revisions for 2005 through 2008 will be published March 30, 2010. The labor market area jobs estimates for 2008 and 2009 have also been revised. The February 2010 unemployment rate, labor force data and jobs estimates for Massachusetts will be released on March 18, 2010; local unemployment statistics will be released on March 30, 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.