BOSTON - Tuesday, December 20, 2011 --- Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that the November seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates were down over-the-month in 19 areas and up in three areas - Tisbury, Nantucket and Barnstable.  Statewide, the November seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate was 6.4 percent, down from 6.8 percent in October. Over-the-year the statewide rate was down 1.7 percentage points from the 8.1 percent rate recorded for November 2010. All twenty-two labor area rates were down over the year.

In November, over-the-month job gains occurred in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Worcester, Framingham, Springfield, Leominster-Fitchburg-Gardner, and New Bedford areas.  Five areas posted job losses.

Over-the-year, all twelve areas added jobs with the largest gains in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Worcester, Framingham, and Springfield areas. The largest percentage gains occurred in the Pittsfield, Worcester and Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton areas.

The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate released on December 15th showed a 5,000 over-the-month job gain. The seasonally adjusted statewide November unemployment rate dropped to 7.0 percent from the October rate of 7.3 percent, and was down 1.3 percentage points from the 8.3 percent rate recorded in November 2010.

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 December 2011 unemployment rate, labor force data and jobs estimates for Massachusetts will be released on January 19, 2012; local unemployment statistics will be released on January 24, 2012. Detailed labor market information is available at www.mass.gov/lmi. See the revised February, 2011 Media Advisory annual schedule for complete listing of release dates.