BOSTON - Tuesday, July 20, 2010 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported that unemployment rates were lower in June than in May in seventeen of the Commonwealth's twenty-two labor market areas.  Unemployment rates were unchanged in the Springfield and North Adams areas and up in the remaining three areas.

Statewide, the June seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent, from May's rate of 9.1 percent. Over-the-year, the unadjusted unemployment rate is up 0.1 percent from the 8.7 percent rate in June 2009.

Job gains were recorded in ten of the Commonwealth's twelve areas in June.  In addition, all areas added jobs in construction, leisure and hospitality, and trade, transportation and utilities. The Boston-Cambridge-Quincy and Barnstable areas added the most jobs over the month. Over-the-year, the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy; Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton; Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury and New Bedford areas gained jobs.

Over the year, unemployment rates were lower in six areas in which their rates were also lower over-the-month. Rates were up over the year in the remaining sixteen labor market areas.

The seasonally adjusted statewide June 2010 unemployment rate, released on July 14th, was 9.0 percent, down from the 9.2 percent in May. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate for June 2010, also released on July 14th, showed a gain of 500 jobs over the month. There have been six straight months of private sector job growth, a total of 44,700 jobs added since December and 3,400 private sector jobs created just in June.

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 July 2010 unemployment rate, labor force data and jobs estimates for Massachusetts will be released on August 19, 2010; local unemployment statistics will be released on August 24, 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.