The unemployment rate in the City of Fall River fell by 0.8 percentage points in March to 7.5%, down from 8.3% in January.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reports that the labor force in Fall River in March totaled 46,504 employees. 3,496 people were recorded as unemployed. The 7.5% unemployment rate for March compared to 7.8% in March of 2025.
Here are the jobless rates of communities surrounding Fall River:
Somerset, 5.3% (5.9% in February)
Swansea, 5.8% (6.1% in February)
Westport, 5.6% (6.1% in February)
Freetown, 5.3% (6.0% in February)
Here are the rates in select Gateway Cities across Eastern Massachusetts in February:
New Bedford, 7.4% (8.2% in February)
Taunton, 5.5% (6.0% in February)
Brockton, 5.4% (5.0% in February)
Lowell, 5.0% (5.5% in February)
Lawrence, 6.4% (7.1% in February)
The state unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percent in March to 4.7%. Here is more information from the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development:
From the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
BOSTON, MA May 5, 2026 — Local unemployment rates decreased in all twelve labor market areas in the state during the month of March 2026 compared to February 2026, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.
Compared to March 2025, rates were up in eight of twelve labor market areas and decreased in one of twelve labor market areas.
Of the five MSA areas and two Metropolitan Divisions for which employment estimates are published, all seven areas gained jobs compared to the previous month. The largest percentage increases occurred in the Barnstable Town, MA (+1.3%), Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA Metropolitan Division (+0.7%), and Worcester, MA (+0.4%) areas.
From March 2025 to March 2026, five areas lost jobs with the largest percentage decreases seen in the Boston, MA Metropolitan Division(-1.3%), Amherst Town-Northampton, MA (-0.9%), and Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA Metropolitan Division (-0.5%) areas.
The statewide seasonally adjusted preliminary jobs estimate showed an increase of 6,800 jobs in March, and an over-the-year loss of 7,500 jobs.
In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for March 2026 was 4.6%, 0.3 percentage points above the nation’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.3%.
Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of March 2026 was 4.7%, 0.1 percentage point below the revised February 2026 estimate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2026 was 4.3%.
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.
