New England Jobless Rate Unchanged in October

The unemployment rate in New England was unchanged in October and remains below the national average.

The New England Information Office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday that the jobless rate in the six-state region was 7.4 percent in October, the same as in September. The regional rate was 7.5 percent a year ago.

Rhode Island's unemployment rate of 10.4 percent is the highest in New England and the second highest in the nation. Vermont's rate of 5.5 percent is the lowest in the region.

The national unemployment rate in October was 7.9 percent — down one percentage point from a year ago.

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