Fall River only area to see unemployment go up

BOSTON – Fall River was the lone area of Massachusetts to see increase in unemployment rates in July, the Mass. Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported last week.
The Fall River area’s rate jumped from 9.5 percent to 10 percent compared with June, the office said.
New Bedford saw its unemployment rate drop slightly, from 11.3 percent in June to 11.2 percent. The figure was higher than July 2012’s rate of 10.6 percent.
Overall, the unemployment rate was down in 19 of the 22 Massachusetts labor markets when compared with June. Two areas saw their rates unchanged. Over the year, the rates were up in 14 areas, down in four areas and unchanged in four areas.
Statewide, the July seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate was 7.2 percent, down 0.2 of a percentage point over the month. Over the year, the statewide unadjusted rate was up 0.2 of a percentage point from the July 2012 rate of 7 percent. •