Continuing our series on the unemployment rate, the June numbers have recently been released. While the Federal June jobs report had stoked optimism that the unemployment rate would level off or decrease, the local numbers do not reflect such hope. Unemployment is up in all fifteen of our communities.

The Massachusetts Unemployment rate climbed .8% and now sits at 17.5%, for historical perspective:

Lawrence leads the region with a 32.6% unemployment rate, a 3.5% increase since last month. It is followed by other two Gateway Cities of Methuen and Haverhill, both moving above 20% for June.

This trend is consistent with the National trend of Black and Latino communities getting hit the hardest by COVID-19 both in terms of infection rates and in terms of economic fallout. According to the New York Times: 

“Across the country, 43 percent of Black and Latino workers are employed in service or production jobs that for the most part cannot be done remotely, census data from 2018 shows. Only about one in four white workers held such jobs. Also, Latino people are twice as likely to reside in a crowded dwelling — less than 500 square feet per person — as white people”

The economic fallout is impacting all of our communities, but it’s certainly impacting some much more than others. The Merrimack Valley is no exception to the growing socio-economic inequities taking place nationally. What was true last month is even more true this month – as recovery programs are implemented, it’s imperative that they address and remediate persistent racial and economic inequality as well as the immediate health and economic repercussions of COVID-19. MVPC’s mission is to the good stewardship of the region and we are committed to pushing for programs that make it healthier, more resilient, and equitable.

Data Source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Labor Market Information

The graphic above provides a snapshot of unemployment levels in the Merrimack Valley. For additional data, check out our Economic Development viewer.