A new map detailing unemployment rates throughout Massachusetts shows that roughly one-quarter of Franklin County’s residents are out of work.
Pioneer Institute’s “COVID Unemployment Tracker,” a map that is updated regularly using information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ unemployment insurance claim reports and labor force data, is designed to show how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected employment numbers across the state.
Users can view data for the state on the whole, or search within the map for information on unemployment rates and unemployment numbers for a particular ZIP code.
For example, within Franklin County, Greenfield has an average unemployment rate of 25.7 percent, according to a map updated on May 16. It also shows that 2,452 individuals in Greenfield are unemployed.
At 26.4 percent, Franklin County falls in the middle of the pack, with Norfolk County at 23 percent and Barnstable, Berkshire and Nantucket counties all at around 28 percent.
Diana Szynal, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, said she wasn’t necessarily surprised by the numbers.
“It’s what I expected. We seem to be right in the mid-range of the unemployment rate across the state,” she said. “The businesses I’ve talked to, some have been able to keep people on, some have not. But I do get a sense that even the people not working now, it’s temporary.”
According to the Pioneer Institute, hospitality — which has seen the highest number of unemployment claims across the state — has hit Western Massachusetts and Cape Cod the hardest.
Likewise, Szynal said there are two areas of the map that stand out to her — the Berkshires and Cape Cod.
“That’s tourism,” Szynal said to explain the higher unemployment rates. “I think that can be attributed to the delay of the tourism season.”
Szynal said the delay in tourism season has also left an impact on Franklin County.
“I just hope we’re able to get back on track … because tourists and travelers contribute to the economy in a lot of ways,” she said.
Next to Greenfield, Shelburne has one of the highest unemployment rates in the county, according to the map. With 574 residents unemployed, the community has an unemployment rate of 25.4 percent.
Whit Sanford, who is a board member of the Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association, attributed the high unemployment, in part, to the hit taken to the tourism industry.
In Shelburne, she said, there are numerous non-essential businesses that couldn’t operate during the state’s shutdown, and the Bridge of Flowers — a major tourist attraction — couldn’t reasonably accommodate social distancing guidelines.
Sanford also said rural areas are just as at risk as urban areas for high unemployment.
“If you’re poor to begin with, and you don’t have normal economic development or proper infrastructure … your chances of being unemployed are greater,” she said, noting that Franklin County, and specifically the western part of the county, are some of poorest areas of the state.
But as Massachusetts enters the first phase of Gov. Charlie Baker’s four-phase plan for reopening the state, Szynal said she expects to see unemployment rates begin to decrease.
“I do expect those numbers will improve,” she said, “as we enter, cautiously, through the phases.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 263. Twitter: @MaryEByrne