Maine's unemployment rate stays flat — for now
Maine’s unemployment rate in March stayed flat, remaining at the February level of 3.2% — because data for the preliminary estimate was compiled before the state felt the brunt of the coronavirus crisis.
However, the nationwide rate soared from 3.5% in February to 4.4% in March. The sharp increase reflects the early economic toll the pandemic has taken in other parts of the country, according to Maine Department of Labor economist Glenn Mills.
The unemployment data was based on surveys taken from March 8-14, Mills explained in a news release Friday.
“Businesses and public places began to close to stop the spread of COVID-19 that week in some states, which caused the U.S. unemployment rate to rise. In Maine the sharp job losses began the following week, which is why our unemployment rate did not rise,” he said.
In the four weeks from March 15 to April 11, Mainers filed 89,500 claims for unemployment compensation with the Labor Department.
“We expect April workforce estimates, to be released May 22, will more fully reflect the employment situation that prevails today,” Mills said.
The March unemployment rate for Maine was little changed from the 3.1% recorded in March 2019, and represented the 51st consecutive month in which the rate has been before 4%. Given the margin of error in the estimates, Maine’s unemployment rate has effectively not changed in nearly three years, Mills said.
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