Haverhill Unemployment Rate Stands at 5 Percent

Latest local unemployment numbers show a slight uptick in Haverhill and Merrimac, while jobless rates in the rest of the lower Merrimack Valley either fell or remained the same.

The seasonally unadjusted jobs and unemployment figures Tuesday from the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) show Haverhill’s unemployment rate increased by one percentage point in October to 5 percent. The number of unemployment claims in Haverhill increased by 23 from September to October to 1,681 people. In the same period, 14 jobs were added, bringing the number of employed to 31,872. However, the reported labor force in Haverhill increased by 37 to 33,553 people. In Merrimac, four more out of work brought unemployment in the town to 139, or up a point, at 3.7 percent to a labor force of 3,791 people. In contrast, unemployment in Lawrence fell by two-tenths a percent, but still had the valley’s highest unemployment rate at 9 percent in October. The statewide average unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.5 percent.

“During the month of October, seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates went down in eight labor market areas, increased in six areas, and remained the same in ten other areas of the state,” EOLWD Communications Director Colleen Quinn said. “The Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford area had no change in its jobs level over the month while seasonal losses occurred in the Barnstable and Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead areas.”

Also in WHAV’s listening area, Methuen and Groveland’s unemployment rates held at 5.2 percent and 3.6 percent respectively. The jobless rate in Andover dropped by one percentage point in October to 3.7 percent.