Easton Sees Unemployment Rate Drop in July

The unemployment rate in the town of Easton decreased slightly in the month of July, according to state data released Tuesday.

The numbers, released by the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Workforce Development, showed a 6.7 percent unemployment rate in town for July, down from 6.8 percent in June. The figure remains lower than last year's 7.8 percent rate.

The state rate was unchanged at 7.8 percent for the month.

The unemployment rates for area towns follow:

• Dover's unemployment rate fell from 4.8 percent in June to 4.5 percent last month. Last year's rate was 5.6 percent
• Foxborough's rate fell slightly, from 6.7 percent in June to 6.6 percent last month. The rate in July 2010 was 7.6 percent.
• Mansfield's unemployment rate increased from 6.7 percent to 6.8 percent last month. Last year's rate was 7.7 percent.
• Medfield saw its unemployment rate jump from 5.5 percent to 5.6 percent in July, but it remained below last year's 7.4 percent rate.
• Norfolk saw its rate climb to 7.4 percent from 6.9 percent in June. Last year's rate was 7.8 percent.
• Norton's unemployment rate went up slightly in July, from 7.7 percent to 7.8 percent, still below last year's rate of 9.4 percent.
• Norwood's July unemployment rate was up, from 6.8 percent in June to 6.9 percent last month. The rate in July 2010 was 7.5 percent.
• Plainville's unemployment rate fell fell for the second straight month, from 8.6 percent to 8.3 percent. Last July's total was 9.9 percent.
• Sharon's unemployment rate fell from 5.9 percent in June to 5.8 percent last month. Last year's rate was 6.6 percent.
• Stoughton's unemployment rate dropped a bit last month, from 7.1 percent to 7 percent, down from last July's 8.6 percent rate.