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- calendar_today October 30, 2026
The latest official data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals notable shifts in employment and wage growth across Massachusetts counties in early 2026. While the state continues to rank highly in terms of average weekly wages, a broad employment contraction is apparent, with some variation in wage growth patterns among its diverse regions.
Employment levels have declined in all nine of the largest Massachusetts counties during the period from March 2025 to March 2026. Statewide, employment dropped by 0.9 percent, bringing total employment to approximately 3.55 million in March 2026. Plymouth County experienced the steepest decline (-2.0%), while relatively smaller declines were seen in Norfolk (-0.4%) and Worcester (-0.6%) counties. These nine largest counties collectively accounted for about 92.6 percent of the state’s covered employment during this period. The largest absolute employment was recorded in Middlesex County, with roughly 880,700 employed individuals as of March 2026.[Bureau of Labor Statistics - County Employment and Wages in Massachusetts]
The wage landscape presents a contrasting narrative. All nine large counties reported increases in average weekly wages over the same timeframe. Suffolk County led with a 7.5 percent wage gain, followed by Essex (4.1%), Hampden, and Middlesex (each at 4.0%). Other counties posted more moderate increases, with Plymouth County at just 0.6%. Suffolk, Middlesex, and Norfolk counties stand out with average weekly wages above the national average, with Suffolk at $3,340 per week, Middlesex at $2,568, and Norfolk at $1,819. Statewide, the average weekly wage grew by 4.8 percent to $2,201—a ranking that places Massachusetts third nationally for wage level and sixth for wage growth.[Bureau of Labor Statistics - County Employment and Wages in Massachusetts]
When examining smaller counties (those with under 75,000 in total employment), wage levels remain below the national average. Nantucket reported the highest average weekly wage among small counties at $1,626, while Franklin had the lowest in the state at $1,085. Across all 14 counties, weekly wage distributions show that four counties had wages greater than $1,625, whereas four counties were below $1,325.[Bureau of Labor Statistics - County Employment and Wages in Massachusetts]
In summary, the Massachusetts labor market in early 2026 is characterized by widespread, albeit varied, employment loss and broad—but uneven—wage growth. Some counties, particularly Suffolk, have seen substantial wage increases, likely reflecting the concentration of higher-paying sectors or cost-of-living adjustments. In contrast, smaller and less urbanized counties continue to lag behind in wage levels. The persistent decline in employment across nearly all major regions signals challenges for labor market recovery, even as wage growth suggests areas of resilience or competitive labor demand within the Commonwealth.[Bureau of Labor Statistics - County Employment and Wages in Massachusetts]
