State Labor Commissioner Jeanne Paquette released November workforce estimates for Maine.
Seasonally Adjusted Statewide Data
Survey of Households – The preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate estimate for Maine was 6.4 percent in November—the lowest figure since November 2008—down from 6.7 percent in October and 7.2 percent one year ago. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated 45,500 were unemployed, down 5,400 over the year.
The share of the population that is employed continued to gradually trend higher in Maine to 61.2 percent. The national employment to population ratio of 58.6 percent remained at about the same level it has been at for four years. November was the 74th consecutive month the share of employed population exceeded the national average.
The U.S. unemployment rate estimate was 7.0 percent, down from 7.3 percent in October and 7.8 percent one year ago. The New England estimate was 6.9 percent. Rates for other states were 5.1 percent in New Hampshire, 4.4 percent in Vermont, 7.1 percent in Massachusetts, 9.0 percent in Rhode Island, and 7.6 percent in Connecticut.
Survey of Employer Payrolls – The preliminary estimate of nonfarm payroll jobs was 601,100 in November, up 4,600 from one year ago according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of private sector jobs has gradually trended higher since 2010. BLS estimated U.S. nonfarm payroll jobs were up 203,000 in November.
Not Seasonally Adjusted Substate Data
The not seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in November, down from 6.9 percent one year ago. Not seasonally adjusted rates ranged from 4.8 percent in Cumberland County to 9.2 percent in Piscataquis County. Rates tended to be lower than the statewide average in southern and central counties and higher than average in northern and rim counties.
The unemployment rate was below the statewide average in all three metropolitan areas: Portland-South Portland-Biddeford (5.0 percent), Bangor (5.6 percent) and Lewiston-Auburn (5.7 percent).
This release is available at www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/news/release.html. Detailed labor force and unemployment data for the state, counties, and 31 labor market areas; nonfarm jobs data for the state and the three metropolitan areas; and much more is available at www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/data.html.