BOSTON – The state's unemployment rate trended slightly downward for November, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But for the first time in some years, it's shifted above the national unemployment rate.

The seasonally adjusted statewide November unemployment rate, released on Dec. 19, was 7.1 percent, down 0.1 of a percentage point over the month and up 0.4 of a percentage point over the year. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 6,500-job gain in November following a revised gain of 9,400 jobs in October.

The preliminary estimates put the unadjusted unemployment rate at 6.6 percent, down 0.2 of a percentage point over the month. Over the year, the statewide unadjusted rate was up 0.4 of a percentage point from the November 2012 rate of 6.2 percent.

Pittsfield's unadjusted rate was 7.7 percent, with more than 1,700 of the city's 22,664-member labor force out of work; North Adams' stood at 8.7, with 592 out of 6,822 out of work. For the Pittsfield Metropolitan area, including surrounding towns from Cheshire to Windsor to Washington, the jobless rate was slightly lower at 7.2 but still above last year's November rate of 6.6.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported on Tuesday that seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates for November were down in 15 areas, up in five areas, and unchanged in two areas.

 

More labor information here.