March 2024 Unemployment and Job Estimates in Mass

10:57AM / Saturday, April 27, 2024Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — Local unemployment rates decreased in twenty-three labor market areas and remained unchanged in one labor market area in the state during the month of March 2024 compared to February 2024, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.

Compared to March 2023, the rates were down in seventeen of twenty-four labor market areas.

Of the fifteen areas for which employment estimates are published, fourteen NECTA areas gained jobs compared to the previous month. The largest percentage increases occurred in the Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead (+0.9 percent), Barnstable Town (+0.8 percent), and Worcester MA-CT (+0.7 percent) areas.

From March 2023 to March 2024, eleven areas gained jobs with the largest percentage increases seen in the Barnstable Town (+5.4 percent), Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead (+3.2 percent), and Pittsfield (+2.3 percent) areas.

The statewide seasonally adjusted preliminary jobs estimate showed an increase of 2,900 jobs in March, and an over-the-year gain of 22,500 jobs.

In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for March 2024 was 3.5 percent, down 0.2 percentage points from the revised February 2024 estimate and was the 0.4 percentage points below the nation's unadjusted unemployment rate of 3.9 percent.

Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of March 2024 was 2.9 percent, unchanged compared to the revised February 2024 estimate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the nation's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2024 decreased by 0.1 percentage point over-the-month to 3.8 percent.

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.

The estimates for labor force, unemployment rates, and jobs for Massachusetts are based on different statistical methodologies specified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The preliminary April 2024 and the revised March 2024 unemployment rates, labor force data and jobs estimate for Massachusetts will be released on Friday, May 17, 2024; local unemployment statistics for April 2024 will be released on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Detailed labor market information is available at http://www.mass.gov/EconomicResearch.

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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action.

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature."

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures.

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis.

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.

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