Economy And Workforce
Unemployment Rate


Unemployment Rate

What does this measure?

Unemployed individuals are those without jobs who are able, available and actively seeking work. The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the total labor force (the total number of employed and unemployed individuals 16 or older and not living in prisons, mental hospitals, or nursing homes).

Why is this important?

Unemployment rates are a relatively timely indicator of current local economic conditions, particularly recent changes in the employment landscape that reflect the overall health of the economy.

How is our county doing?

The unemployment rate in Essex County was 6.4% in 2021, which represented about 27,000 people seeking employment. This represents a decline from the previous year when the rate peaked at 10.4% due to COVID in 2020. The state and nation have also had an overall decline since 2020, and had rates of 5.7% and 5.3%, respectively in 2021.

How do we compare to similar counties?

The unemployment rate in Essex County was higher than Lake County, IL (5.3%), Middlesex, MA (4.6%) and Westchester, NY (4.8%). Also on par with state and national trends, all comparison areas have lower unemployment rates since peak rates in 2020.

Notes about the data

The unemployment rate represents only those who are actively seeking employment and does not account for under-employment or discouraged workers who have stopped looking for jobs. Also, county-level estimates are based on relatively small samples, and the true number of unemployed residents may vary considerably from the estimate. The rates reported here are averages of monthly rates.

Unemployment Rate
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Essex County, MA2.9%4.1%5.8%6.3%5.6%5.2%5.1%4.8%5.6%8.7%8.4%7.6%7.1%7.0%6.0%5.0%4.1%3.9%3.5%3.1%10.4%6.4%
Amesbury2.4%3.6%5.1%5.6%4.9%4.4%4.6%4.3%5.2%7.9%7.6%6.5%6.0%5.9%5.0%4.2%3.3%3.1%3.0%2.6%8.3%4.7%
Beverly2.2%3.2%4.6%5.0%4.8%4.3%4.1%4.0%4.7%7.4%7.2%6.3%5.8%5.7%5.2%4.3%3.5%3.3%3.1%2.6%8.3%4.8%
Gloucester3.8%5.0%6.2%6.8%6.2%5.9%5.9%5.5%6.5%9.6%10.2%9.0%8.2%8.5%7.1%6.1%4.9%4.6%4.3%3.8%10.1%6.9%
Haverhill2.7%4.2%6.4%6.5%5.7%5.3%5.0%4.8%5.9%9.1%8.9%8.1%7.6%7.0%6.1%5.1%4.2%4.0%3.5%3.3%10.7%6.6%
Lawrence5.7%9.0%12.2%12.1%10.9%10.0%9.6%9.1%10.7%15.7%14.4%14.5%13.3%13.1%11.0%9.1%7.5%7.0%6.5%5.6%18.5%12.4%
Lynn3.3%4.4%6.2%7.3%6.5%6.1%5.9%5.5%6.3%9.4%8.7%8.0%7.6%7.3%6.4%5.3%4.4%4.0%3.8%3.4%13.3%8.1%
Methuen3.4%4.7%7.2%7.5%6.6%6.0%5.7%5.4%6.5%10.1%9.5%8.4%8.2%8.2%6.7%5.6%4.7%4.4%3.9%3.5%11.0%7.2%
Newburyport2.3%3.4%5.0%5.4%4.3%3.9%3.9%3.5%4.1%6.6%7.2%6.1%5.7%5.5%4.7%4.0%3.3%3.1%2.7%2.5%7.0%4.0%
Peabody2.5%3.6%4.9%5.4%4.9%4.7%4.8%4.4%5.0%7.8%7.6%6.4%6.2%6.2%5.3%4.4%3.8%3.5%3.2%2.8%10.2%5.8%
Salem2.6%3.7%5.2%5.8%5.4%4.8%4.7%4.5%5.2%8.1%8.1%7.4%6.7%6.7%5.8%4.9%4.1%3.9%3.6%3.1%10.7%6.3%
Middlesex County, MA2.3%3.4%4.9%5.2%4.4%4.0%3.9%3.7%4.3%6.9%6.7%5.9%5.4%5.4%4.7%3.9%3.3%3.1%2.8%2.4%7.7%4.6%
Lake County, IL3.5%4.3%5.2%5.7%5.2%4.6%4.2%4.9%6.5%9.9%10.0%8.9%8.2%7.9%6.5%5.4%5.2%4.5%4.5%3.9%8.2%5.3%
Westchester County, NY3.4%3.8%4.6%4.5%4.5%4.0%3.8%3.6%4.7%7.2%7.5%7.1%7.4%6.4%5.2%4.6%4.4%4.5%3.9%3.6%8.0%4.8%
Massachusetts2.8%3.8%5.2%5.7%5.1%4.8%4.7%4.5%5.3%8.1%8.1%7.2%6.7%6.6%5.7%4.8%4.0%3.8%3.4%3.1%9.4%5.7%
United States4.0%4.7%5.8%6.0%5.5%5.1%4.6%4.6%5.8%9.3%9.6%8.9%8.1%7.4%6.2%5.3%4.9%4.4%3.9%3.7%8.1%5.3%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics




Total Unemployed
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Essex County, MA10,62315,60322,35824,00421,32519,57818,91517,94221,23432,96533,10429,97328,28627,84624,23620,34116,93716,39815,22913,55143,99927,018
Amesbury213329467500431386403376448686713613575564486431339320318272859484
Beverly4867001,0141,0851,0399268768411,0101,5721,5821,3901,2851,2741,1709728007687406371,9341,124
Gloucester6148321,0501,1391,0299819488811,0701,5771,5491,3631,2501,2921,0839337527377136391,6361,125
Haverhill8581,3472,0192,0311,7521,6201,5241,4861,8362,8562,9142,6812,5192,3372,0671,7451,4321,4071,2761,1963,8312,346
Lawrence1,6102,6163,6503,6263,2142,9042,7712,6313,1294,7635,0295,1314,7164,6503,8963,2852,6742,5642,3812,0257,0784,634
Lynn1,3831,8772,6513,1342,7372,5632,4592,2772,6373,9633,9543,6343,5193,3532,9922,4472,0461,9051,8271,6446,5083,885
Methuen7531,0821,6921,7611,5311,3921,3241,2551,5182,3972,3992,1392,1172,1341,7651,4871,2531,2221,0929763,0572,001
Newburyport224341506543433390381345408649670568541520455389322313276254705403
Peabody6489351,3061,4371,3311,2831,3201,2111,3872,1712,1281,8131,7671,7561,5211,2691,0911,0339498283,0021,691
Salem6008771,2591,4171,2841,1371,1021,0541,2401,9251,8911,7211,5761,5761,3901,1529679588937672,6211,536
Middlesex County, MA18,55927,82340,91843,06035,76932,69531,69330,20835,87556,76455,50348,65445,52845,51139,88433,77028,68628,22825,81922,72169,56641,897
Lake County, IL11,77414,45217,80219,67818,17616,36015,44618,01524,17535,95136,90532,71829,87828,71823,75719,85319,57016,83216,95014,87929,76719,256
Westchester County, NY15,54617,55321,59921,45521,48219,35618,50717,81023,30435,15735,95733,80135,11030,61724,31221,85220,84821,94019,01717,96838,86223,100
Massachusetts94,210128,540179,347195,695173,839162,583160,659155,327183,607280,925280,687251,677235,201233,545204,704172,113145,171142,131131,428117,400351,435215,392
United States5,692,0006,801,0008,378,0008,774,0008,149,0007,591,0007,001,0007,078,0008,924,00014,265,00014,825,00013,747,00012,506,00011,460,0009,617,0008,296,0007,751,0006,982,0006,314,0006,001,00012,947,0008,623,000

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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INDICATORS TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Decreasing
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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