The unemployment rate in the City of Fall River rose one-tenth of a percent in February to 8.2%, up from 8.1% in January.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reports that the labor force in Fall River in February totaled 46,821 employees. 3,857 people were recorded as unemployed. The 8.2% unemployment rate for February compared to 8.3% in February of 2025.
Here are the jobless rates of communities surrounding Fall River:
Somerset, 5.9% (5.8% in January)
Swansea, 6.1% (6.0% in January)
Westport, 6.0% (6.2% in January)
Freetown, 6.0% (5.8% in January)
Here are the rates in select Gateway Cities across Eastern Massachusetts in February:
New Bedford, 8.2% (8.2% in January)
Taunton, 6.0% (6.1% in January)
Brockton, 6.0% (6.2% in January)
Lowell, 5.5% (5.7% in January)
Lawrence, 7.1% (7.2% in January)
The state unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percent in February to 4.8%. 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 April 21, 2026 — Local unemployment rates decreased in six of twelve labor market areas and increased in three of twelve labor market areas in the state during the month of February 2026 compared to January 2026, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.
Compared to February 2025, rates were up in nine of twelve labor market areas and decreased in two of twelve labor market areas.
Of the five MSA areas and two Metropolitan Divisions for which employment estimates are published, four areas gained jobs compared to the previous month. The largest percentage increases occurred in the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA(+1.2%), Springfield, MA(+0.6%), and Boston, MA Metropolitan Division(+0.3%) areas.
From February 2025 to February 2026, four areas lost jobs with the largest percentage decreases seen in the Amherst Town-Northampton, MA(-1.3%), Boston, MA Metropolitan Division (-1.1%), and Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA Metropolitan Division (-0.9%) areas.
The statewide seasonally adjusted preliminary jobs estimate showed a decrease of 7,200 jobs in February, and an over-the-year loss of 17,000 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 February 2026 was 5.1%, 0.4 percentage points above the nation’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.7%.
Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of February 2026 was 4.8%, 0.1 percentage point above the revised January 2026 estimate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2026 was 4.4%.
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.
