Top Five Unemployment Hot Spots for September

Highest Unemployment Rates for RI & MA

September 2013

September UE Graph

The September 2013 Unemployment Rates for Massachusetts and Rhode Island were finally released the last week of November. Unemployment spread a little more heat northward this time. Lawrence MA received the dubious distinction of heading the hot list with a whopping 15% unemployment rate.  This is more than double the state and US rates. Central Falls, RI knocked its southern neighbor, Pawtucket RI off the list…at least for the month of September.  Two longstanding contenders for top five unemployment spots, Providence RI and Fall River MA went in different directions in September. Providence unemployment rose 13% from 11.5% in August to 13.0% in September.  Fall River, on the other hand declined a half percent from 12.3% in August to 11.7% in September.

The U.S unemployment rate was 7.3%, Massachusetts (7.2%), and Rhode Island was 9.2% (Seasonally Adjusted).   Despite some favorable results around Boston, the industrial cities of the two states continue to be hot spots for the unemployed.

Is it possible that higher unemployment rates will continue to head northward in MA and RI? Look forward to the next Hot Spot blog and find out!

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