
Massachusetts Added 8,500 Jobs in April While Unemployment Held at 4.7%
May 22, 2026…..The Massachusetts unemployment rate held at 4.7% in April, nearly half a percentage point higher than the national rate, but employers here added 8,500 jobs last month, state officials reported Friday.
The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development also revised the estimated increase in jobs during March to 7,200 after that figure was originally reported at 6,800.
Construction, Health Care and Professional Services Lead Growth
Construction, education and health services, and professional and business services jobs were up in April while jobs were down last month in information, manufacturing and financial activities.
State Continues Modest Job Gains Over Past Year
Massachusetts has added about 21,600 payroll jobs since September 2025, the labor office noted, but data posted on the state’s website also shows jobs here are up by only 1,500 since April 2025.