The unemployment rate in the City of Fall River rose by 0.1 percentage point in June to 5.5%, up from 5.4% in May.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reports that the labor force in Fall River totaled 46,039 employees in June. 2,542 people were recorded as unemployed. The 5.5% unemployment rate for June compared to 5.8% in June of 2025.
Here are the jobless rates of the communities surrounding Fall River:
Somerset, 4.1% (4.5% in May)
Swansea, 4.1% (3.9% in May)
Westport, 3.9% (3.9% in May)
Freetown, 3.7% (3.8% in May)
Here are the rates in select Gateway Cities across Eastern Massachusetts in June:
New Bedford, 5.9% (5.7% in May)
Taunton, 4.8% (4.9% in May)
Brockton, 5.1% (5.0% in May)
Lowell, 4.7% (4.6% in May)
Lawrence, 6.1% (6.0% in May)
The state unemployment rate in June fell to 4.4%. Here is more information from the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development:
BOSTON, MA July 21, 2026 — Local unemployment rates decreased in four of twelve labor market areas and increased in four of twelve labor market areas in the state during the month of June 2026 compared to May 2026, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.
Compared to June 2025, rates were down in nine of the twelve labor market areas and were unchanged in three 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(+7.6%), Amherst Town-Northampton, MA(+2.5%), and Pittsfield, MA(+2.4%) areas.
From June 2025 to June 2026, all seven areas gained jobs with the largest percentage increases seen in the Springfield, MA(+1.5%), Worcester, MA (+0.8%), and Boston, MA Metropolitan Division (+0.6%) areas.
The statewide seasonally adjusted preliminary jobs estimate showed an increase of 8,400 jobs in June, and an over-the-year gain of 18,000 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 June 2026 was 0.2 percentage points lower than the nation’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.4%.
Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of June 2026 was 4.4%, 0.1 percentage point below the revised May 2026 estimate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June 2026 decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2%.
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.
