Maine’s December jobless rate falls to 6.2%
Maine’s December jobless rate fell to 6.2% in December, according to seasonally adjusted estimates released by the Maine Department of Labor on Tuesday. That rate is down from 6.4% in November and 7.2% a year ago, and translates to 44,300 unemployed Mainers, down 6,500 over the same period in 2012.
Maine continues to have a higher share of employed population than the U.S. (61.2% versus 58.6%).
The U.S. unemployment rate estimate was 6.7%, down from 7% in November and 7.9% one year ago. The New England estimate was 6.8%. Rates for other states were 5.1% in New Hampshire, 4.2% in Vermont, 7% in Massachusetts, 9.1% in Rhode Island and 7.4% in Connecticut.
The unemployment rate was below the statewide average in all three metropolitan areas: Portland-South Portland-Biddeford (4.9%), Bangor (5.6%) and Lewiston-Auburn (5.6%).
The preliminary estimate of nonfarm payroll jobs in Maine was 600,400 in December, up 6,500 from one year ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Private sector jobs have gradually trended up since 2010, primarily in the professional and business services, health care and the leisure and hospitality sectors. Jobs in all three levels of government trended lower during that period, according to the monthly jobless report.
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