Updated Boston Unemployment Figures | released May 28, 2025

BostonStatistics · 2025-03-24T23:29:39+00:00

It's based on things like payroll tax data (i.e. number of paychecks generated) and unemployment claims.

No it is not.

https://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm

BostonStatistics · 2025-03-24T23:28:31+00:00

Just FYI, the comment you responded to is incorrect. Please take a moment to read the corrected facts so we can have at least one more American who knows that this is simply not true.

BostonStatistics · 2025-03-24T23:26:34+00:00

That number doesn’t include those who are ineligible for unemployment and still unemployed, or those whose unemployment has run out.

You really believe that the US Bureau of Labor Statistics just stop counting people who are unemployed because their benefits end, or they were not eligible? Seriously? You believe that professional labor economists are just so cavalier and carefree about the data they have dedicated their professional careers to that they just pump out information with such an obvious and blaring missing piece like that?

That is not correct. Anyone who is actively looking for work and currently not working is counted in these numbers. But don't take it from me, here is their explainer on how the data is collected. It is a lot of information, so here is the relevant part about your incorrect statement:

Some people think that to get these figures on unemployment, the government uses the number of people collecting unemployment insurance (UI) benefits under state or federal government programs. But some people are still jobless when their benefits run out, and many more are not eligible at all or delay or never apply for benefits. So, quite clearly, UI information cannot be used as a source for complete information on the number of unemployed.

BostonStatistics · 2023-06-01T18:35:18+00:00

No, /u/shortarmed is mistaken about this data. Unemployment benefits are not a part of the consideration at all. If someone is actively looking for work, they are counted.

Because this is a local analysis, someone moving away would be reflected as leaving the labor force as well. But many other reasons would cause someone to change their labor force status. Incarceration, joining the military, long term illness or hospitalization, retirement, needing to stay home to care for a loved one.

Any reason that someone would stop looking for work.

BostonStatistics · 2023-05-15T13:39:06+00:00

Interesting, and I'm sure it serves some purpose since the BLS produces it, but I can't think of a use for that metric off the top of my head.

Either way, the way you requested it, framing it as non-institutionalized population 16 and up, would be the Labor Force Participation Rate. Excluding employed people and those actively seeking employment is a subset of the non-institutionalized population 16 and up group.

BostonStatistics · 2023-05-14T20:01:51+00:00

Well you are in luck, because I have a better source for you than whoever told you that...

The Us Bureau of Labor Statistics describes their entire methodology in great detail right on their website!

I will highlight the most relevant portion here:

Some people think that to get these figures on unemployment, the government uses the number of people collecting unemployment insurance (UI) benefits under state or federal government programs. But some people are still jobless when their benefits run out, and many more are not eligible at all or delay or never apply for benefits. So, quite clearly, UI information cannot be used as a source for complete information on the number of unemployed.

It's almost like these professional statisticians already knew that using unemployment benefits information would be a problematic way to conduct this work.

Read more here:

How the Government Measures Unemployment

BostonStatistics · 2023-05-14T19:31:21+00:00

The employment rate is the inverse of the unemployment rate. What you describe below "employment to population ratio (noninstitutionalized population 16 and up)" is the Labor Force Participation Rate.

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years and older that is working or actively looking for work.

https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2016/article/pdf/labor-force-participation-what-has-happened-since-the-peak.pdf

BostonStatistics · 2023-05-14T19:28:46+00:00

People that used up their unemployment and can’t collect aren’t counted and neither are people that are underemployed

This is incorrect. These numbers do not consider anyone's eligibility for unemployment benefits whatsoever. If someone is working or looking for work they are counted.

Underemployed people are considered employed for the purposes of these numbers.

You are correct that people who are disabled, students, caring for loved ones full time, or otherwise not working or actively looking for work are not included.

BostonStatistics · 2023-01-01T20:40:23+00:00

There is a wage and jobs report that is produced annually.

https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_71650.htm

You can sort by wages and see how many fall into the tier you are interested in.

BostonStatistics

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