Checked
Massachusetts Weekly Jobless Claims
Unemployment insurance claims under the state program, not seasonally adjusted
- Initial claims
- 4,242
- Week ending 10/17/2026
- Change from prior week
- -263
- 4,505 the week before
- Same week a year ago
- 4,978
- Week ending 10/18/2025
- Insured unemployment rate
- 1.7%
- Week ending 10/10/2026
Initial claims by week
Not seasonally adjusted
Last 12 weeks
Continued claims are for the week before each filing week
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Week ending | Initial claims | Continued claims | Insured unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/17/2026 | 4,242 | 61,072 | 1.7% |
| 10/10/2026 | 4,505 | 61,651 | 1.7% |
| 10/03/2026 | 4,439 | 62,953 | 1.8% |
| 09/26/2026 | 4,005 | 62,380 | 1.7% |
| 09/19/2026 | 4,124 | 64,882 | 1.8% |
| 09/12/2026 | 4,626 | 66,428 | 1.9% |
| 09/05/2026 | 4,510 | 72,635 | 2.0% |
| 08/29/2026 | 3,939 | 74,751 | 2.1% |
| 08/22/2026 | 4,284 | 75,777 | 2.1% |
| 08/15/2026 | 4,112 | 75,584 | 2.1% |
| 08/08/2026 | 4,617 | 75,706 | 2.1% |
| 08/01/2026 | 4,197 | 76,787 | 2.1% |
Frequently asked questions
- How many people filed for unemployment in Massachusetts last week?
- 4,242 initial claims were filed in Massachusetts in the week ending 10/17/2026, compared with 4,978 in the same week a year earlier. The latest week can be revised.
- How do I file for unemployment in Massachusetts?
- File with Massachusetts's state unemployment insurance agency, online or by phone. The U.S. Department of Labor lists every state agency at careeronestop.org and dol.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA 539) · Through the week ending 10/17/2026