Maine unemployment unchanged at 4.9% in August
Maine’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9% in August, sitting below the national and New England region’s rates.
The number of nonfarm payroll jobs decreased by 1,200 to 617,200 in August. Government jobs decreased 1,100, mostly in local governments, while private sector jobs decreased by 100. An increase in health care and social assistance was offset by small decreases in several other sectors during the month.
In August, there were 22,800 fewer jobs than in February, 2020, before the COVID-19 virus affected the labor market. The 3.6% decrease during that period in Maine is close to the 3.5 percent decrease seen nationally. Jobs remained down the most in leisure and hospitality, state and local government education, and healthcare and social assistance.
Still, there were more jobs in the professional and business services and wholesale trade sectors in August than before the pandemic.
The U.S. and New England unemployment rates were 5.2% and 5.3%, respectively. Rates for other states in the region ranged from 3.0 percent in New Hampshire and Vermont to 7.2% in Connecticut.
The not seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate of 4.4% for August was little changed from 4.3% a year ago. Unemployment rates were lowest in Sagadahoc County at 3.8% and highest in Somerset and Washington counties at 6.2 percent.
The Portland-South Portland metro area saw unemployment of 3.9%, compared with 4.5% in the Bangor metro area and 5.1% in the Lewiston-Auburn metro area,
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