HYANNIS – Good news continues for the Cape and Islands when it comes to unemployment.
The rate for December in Barnstable County was 4.3 percent, which was down from 4.7 percent the previous year and up from 3.5 percent in November.
MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board Executive Director David Augustinho said the Cape Cod rate was strong for December even with seasonal hiring.
“It’s just strong for us and we’ll just see whether or not if it keeps going,” Augustinho said.
The Martha’s Vineyard rate fell from 5.9 percent from the year before to 5.2 percent in December.
The Nantucket rate was up slightly from 5.7 to 6.1 percent.
Ausgustinho said the low rates continue to cause issues for local employers with positions available.
“That’s been the constant theme for the last year and a half or two years,” he said.
“I just don’t see much relief in sight.”
Augustinho said it is hard to attract workers down to the Cape because of the lack of affordable housing and high cost of living.
The Plymouth County unemployment rate was down from 3.2 to 2.8 in December.
The overall state rate fell from 3.1 percent to 2.7 percent from the previous December.
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