How many jobs were lost in Massachusetts last month?
Refreshed monthly
Massachusetts lost 7,100 jobs in August 2026, ranking it 48th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 2,300 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-7.1K
month to month change in number of jobs (August 2026)
48th
rank among states in monthly job growth (August 2026)
August 2026’s loss of 7,100 jobs was the second consecutive month of negative job growth in Massachusetts. Monthly job growth was down from the 4,000 lost jobs in July 2026.
During the latest five year period (September 2021 to August 2026), Massachusetts gained jobs in 35 out of 60 months. August 2026 had the fifth-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+34,100) while job growth was weakest in June 2025 (-13,100).
There were 7,100 fewer jobs in August 2026 in Massachusetts than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, September 2021–August 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Massachusetts sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in August 2026?
The supersector with the highest job growth in August 2026 was durable goods. Durable goods added 1,500 jobs, more than the entire economy. The remaining supersectors either posted job loss or no job change during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, construction, and private educational services. administrative and support and waste management and remediation services lost 5,300 jobs in August 2026, while construction lost 1,400 jobs and private educational services lost 1,000 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 300 jobs during August 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Massachusetts (August 2026)
How has Massachusetts's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Massachusetts lost an average of 1,442 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly decrease of 358, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fourth-lowest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 6,900 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 7,100 on average every month in 2014.
In 2025, Massachusetts lost an average of 1,400 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among six metro areas primarily in Massachusetts during August 2026 ranged from a loss of 12,800 jobs in the Boston, MA area to a gain of 400 jobs in the Springfield, MA area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Massachusetts
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +1,200 | |
| 2. | +400 | |
| 3. | +100 | |
| 4. | +100 | |
| 5. | +100 | |
| 6. | -300 | |
| 7. | -12,800 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
