By Tony Dobrowolski, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Tuesday May 25, 2010
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire County’s unemployment rate dropped by half a percentage point in April to 9.1 percent, the lowest level this year.
It was the second straight month county unemployment dropped by that half-point margin. The rate is now a full point lower than the 10.1 percent registered in February, when Berkshire unemployment reached double digits in consecutive months for the first time in 17 years.
The number of unemployed in the Berkshires dropped by almost 400 workers in April, according to figures released today by the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. There was also a 400-worker decrease in the county’s labor force.
Unemployment in the Pittsfield, North Adams, and Great Barrington labor market areas also decreased last month. All three areas also experienced drops of at least half a percentage point.
The figures are not seasonally adjusted, which means they take into account seasonal positions, such as tourism and construction jobs.
