BOSTON MA - Tuesday, March 12, 2013 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that the January 2013 seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates were up in all 22 areas over the month.  Over the year, the rates were down in 14 areas and up in eight areas.

Statewide, the January seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate was 7.4 percent. Over the year, the statewide unadjusted rate was 0.1 of a percentage point below the 7.5 percent rate posted for January 2012. The seasonally adjusted statewide January unemployment rate, released on March 7, was 6.7 percent, unchanged over the month and down 0.1 of a percentage point from the 6.8 percent rate recorded in January 2012. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 16,100 job gain over the month.

In January 2013, over the month job losses occurred in all twelve areas due mostly to seasonal declines.

Over the year, ten of the 12 areas added jobs with the largest percentage gains in the Barnstable, New Bedford, Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury, and the Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton areas.

The labor force, unemployment rates and jobs estimates, for Massachusetts and for every other state, are based on statistical methodologies specified by the U.S. Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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 February 2013 unemployment rate, labor force data, and jobs estimates for Massachusetts will be released on March 21, 2013; local unemployment statistics will be released on March 26, 2013. Detailed labor market information is available at www.mass.gov/lmi. See the 2013 Revised Media Advisory annual schedule for complete listing of release dates.