Mass. unemployment up in May

The Massachusetts unemployment rate rose from 4.6 percent in April to 5.1 percent in May, the largest statistically significant rate increase in the nation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

The commonwealth was one of only six states nationally to post a significant jobless rate increase over the month, said the bureau, which is part of the US Department of Labor.

Still, the Massachusetts jobless rate in May was not "measurably different" from that recorded in May 2006, the bureau said.

For May, the New England unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage point from April to 4.7 percent, a level essentially unchanged from a year ago, the bureau said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)