Maine unemployment dips slightly in December
Maine's unemployment rate in December was 5.5%, down from 5.7% the previous month and nearly 1% less than it was a year ago.
The Maine Department of Labor reported on Monday that an estimated 38,400 people were unemployed last month, 6,700 fewer than a year ago.
The national unemployment rate in December was 5.6%, down from 5.8% the previous month, and a decrease from 6.7% one year ago.
Maine's three metropolitan areas remained well under the statewide unemployment average, with Portland-South Portland-Biddeford at 3.7%, Lewiston-Auburn 4.4% and Bangor 4.6%
Maine's employment-to-population percentage was 60.8% in December, the 87th consecutive month the state has been above the national average of 59.2%.
The state's preliminary estimate for nonfarm payroll jobs in December was 609,200, up from 5,100 one year ago. Private sector jobs increased by 5,300 over the same period, primarily from the professional and business services, education and health care sectors.
Unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted.
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