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August 21, 2009

Maine's jobless rate dips ever so slightly

By The Mainebiz News Staff

Maine's unemployment rate in July was 8.4%, down from a revised 8.6% in June and up from 5.4% in July 2008, according to preliminary estimates from the Maine Department of Labor.

After leveling off in May and June, the number of nonfarm wage and salary jobs in Maine declined 1,500 in July to 596,700, according to the labor department. Nonfarm jobs declined 21,000 between July 2008 and July 2009. Job losses were registered in most sectors, including natural resources, construction, manufacturing, professional and business services and leisure and hospitality. Job gains were recorded in the education and health care sectors.

The national unemployment rate in July was 9.4%, down from 9.5% in June and up from 5.8% in July 2008. In Maine and the nation the size of the labor force declined, contributing to lower unemployment rates. New Hampshire reported a July seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 6.8%, while Massachusetts reported 8.8%; Vermont, 6.8%; Rhode Island, 12.7%; and Connecticut, 7.8%.

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