Both Massachusetts’ and Westford’s unemployment rates are back up as of this May according to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
The figures went from a 4.1 percent state average in April to 4.4 percent in May. Westford followed this trend, rising to 3.5 percent in comparison to April’s 3.3 percent.
Both of these rates are a large improvement to last year’s numbers including a 4.3 percent rate for Westford in May 2014.
Rates in several towns surrounding Westford are also up this month. Acton’s unemployment rate went up .4 percent to 3.3 percent and Chelmsford followed Westford’s 0.2 percent climb as to end the month at 3.7 percent.
Twelve other Massachusetts towns have the same 3.5 percent unemployment rate as Westford, including Bedford and Littleton.
Although unemployment has gone up across the board, there were some towns with lowered rates such as Provincetown. Although Provincetown had the highest rate overall in the state by a landslide again this month at 15.4 percent, this was a 4.3 percent drop from April’s 19.7 percent figure.
Whately and Conway share the title for lowest rate, both coming in with 2.6 percent.
