Research Publications

An analysis of micro businesses (less than 5 employees) and small businesses (less than 50 employees) in Boston, focusing on industry distribution, employment, and economic impact.

This Report analyzes development trends in five sub-markets (housing, office, hotel, industrial, and institutional) while describing concurrent economic and demographic trends that may influence development. Together, these data depict the recent cycle of real estate development in Boston, from the beginning of Article 80 in 1996 through the development downturn during the 2008-2009 recession to the recent development boom coinciding with the city’s economic recovery.

The 2018 Economy Report details Boston’s impressive economic growth, covering trends in employment, wages, housing prices, and real estate. The Spotlight section takes a deep dive into Boston’s growing tech industry by examining job openings in biotech, green jobs, and cybersecurity. It also analyzes the ‘middle skill’ jobs that make Boston’s growth accessible to residents without higher education. Finally, the Forecast section describes the outlook for Boston’s economic future, hinting at continued growth.

For a presentation version of the Economy Report, click here: Boston's Economy 2018 Presentation

This presentation looks at trends over the past 15 years in Boston business establishments and payroll employment. The analysis looks at trends in business services, education, health care and social assistance, consumer services, and production and transportation industries.

In fiscal year 2017, Boston continued its unparalleled 23-year record with more NIH funding than any other U.S. city. This report delves into funding provided by the National Institutes of Health for the fiscal year 2017, with a concentration on grant recipients in Boston. It also cites specific advancements in science and medicine that were made possible by the NIH awards to Boston research institutes, hospitals, universities, and private companies.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes the official national monthly unemployment rate, as well official rates at the state, county, and city level through the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program. The BLS does not publish unemployment data at the neighborhood level or any other geography below the citywide level. This report explains attempts to estimate neighborhood-level unemployment rates.

The BPDA Research Division's annual economy report describes conditions and trends in Boston's economy, focusing on economic growth, employment and wages, and the real estate market. This 2017 report includes a spotlight on Boston's economic environment in comparison to a set of 25 peer cities.

In 2005, the Boston Planning and Development Agency (then known as the BRA), in collaboration with Create Boston, released a report titled “Boston’s Creative Economy” assessing the size, scope, and economic impact of creative industries in the city. This follow-up revisits the report, asking how the size and composition of employment in Boston’s Creative Economy has changed over the last decade. The original report can be accessed here.

Fiscal Year 2016 marked the 22nd consecutive year that Boston received the most NIH funding of any U.S. city. Forty-two Boston institutions received 3,592 NIH awards for more than $1.85 billion in funding. This total represents 7.5% of all NIH spending and 72% of all NIH funding in Massachusetts. Eight Boston organizations received over $100 million in NIH funding, reinforcing Boston as a powerhouse in medical research.

Commuting patterns reflect interactions within the regional economy. Workers who reside in one town may work in a neighboring town. Jobs in a given town may be filled by a combination of resident workers and commuters. This report examines residential and employment patterns in the greater Boston area and within Boston neighborhoods.