The slowing economy continued to weaken Maine’s labor market in October.
The state’s unemployment rate in October was 5.7%, up from 5.6% in September and 4.9% since October 2007, according to preliminary seasonally-adjusted data from the Maine Department of Labor. In the past year, the labor department recorded a decline of 4,000 jobs. While professional and business services and educational and health services recorded job gains over the past year, trade, transportation and utilities; construction; financial activities; government; manufacturing; leisure and hospitality services; and information all recorded job losses.
The national unemployment rate was 6.5% in October, up from 6.1% in September and 4.8% in October 2007.