Greater Worcester unemployment ticks back up to 5.6% in June

Unemployment in the Worcester area increased to 5.6% in June, up from 5.2% in May, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

June’s number, however, is still significantly lower than a year prior, when the unemployment in and around Worcester was 13.8%, as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic was being felt throughout the economy.

BLS reported in June there were 19,831 unemployed people in the labor force, compared to 17,993 in May. 

At the same time, the labor force increased, from 347,888 to 351,481, month to month.

The latest jobless rate comes as the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 has called into question the pace of the country’s economic reopening, particularly in virus hot spots where the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has recommended vaccinated individuals resume masking indoors. 

The CDC released its updated guidance on Tuesday.