Maine's unemployment is at the lowest rate since pandemic's start
Maine’s unemployment rate fell slightly in February to 4.8%, which is 0.4% lower than an uptick in January and about the level at which the rate hovered during the fall.
In October 2020 Maine last hit 4.8%, the lowest percentage since the start of the pandemic. The rate was 4.9% for September, November and December last year.
Also in February, the number of jobs increased by 2,800 to a total of 605,800, according to seasonally adjusted, nonfarm payroll data released Friday by the state Department of Labor. Most of the job increases were in professional and business services, retail trade and manufacturing.
However, the number of jobs in Maine is still 34,200 fewer than a year ago, with a decrease of 16,100 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector and 5,800 in public and private education.
Current unemployment rates reflect the fact that more Mainers no longer participate in the workforce. If participation was as high as a year ago, the number of unemployed workers in the state would be higher by 29,400 and the unemployment rate would be 8.8%, the Labor Department said.
Nationwide in February, the unemployment rate was 6.3%. Compared to the rest of New England, Maine’s rate was fairly low: The rate was 3.3% in New Hampshire, 3.3% in Vermont, 7.2% in Massachusetts, 7.9% in Rhode Island, and 8.5% in Connecticut.
According to data that was not seasonally adjusted, the unemployment rates among counties were lowest in Sagadahoc, 4.4%, and highest in Washington, 8%.
Unemployment rates were below the statewide average in all three of the state’s metro areas. The Bangor and Portland-South Portland metros each reported February rates of 5%, while the rate in Lewiston-Auburn was 5.3%.
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