The December unemployment numbers for the Merrimack Valley have been released. After sustained decreases over the past five months, unemployment ticked slightly upward across all fifteen communities. Statewide unemployment increased 0.9% and now sits at 7.1%, with comparable increases seen throughout the Merrimack Valley.
A closer look at the Federal data reveals stark losses in the leisure and hospitality industry (-498,000), gambling and recreation industry (-92,000), and private education (-63,000). These losses and the subsequent slight increase in unemployment could be due to a number of factors, including the recent surge in COVID cases and subsequent restrictions, in combination with the lack of additional federal aid before the most recent stimulus package was approved in late December.
| Community | March 2020 Unemployment % | December 2020 Unemployment % |
| Amesbury | 2.7 | 5.5 |
| Andover | 2.2 | 5.7 |
| Boxford | 1.9 | 5.1 |
| Georgetown | 2.2 | 5.2 |
| Groveland | 2.5 | 5.0 |
| Haverhill | 2.2 | 8.1 |
| Lawrence | 5.1 | 14.5 |
| Merrimac | 2.5 | 6.2 |
| Methuen | 3.2 | 8.3 |
| Newbury | 2.6 | 5.9 |
| Newburyport | 2.4 | 5.4 |
| North Andover | 2.3 | 6.1 |
| Rowley | 3.3 | 6.6 |
| Salisbury | 3.4 | 6.4 |
| West Newbury | 2.1 | 5.1 |
Data Source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Labor Market Information
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