AUGUSTA, Maine — According to Maine.gov on April 21, workforce conditions continued to improve in March. Preliminary estimates indicate there was a record number of nonfarm and private sector payroll jobs in Maine, which drove the unemployment rate to a new low.
The preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.0 percent for March was the lowest on record since the current estimation methodology was implemented in 1976. It was down from 3.2 percent in February and 3.7 percent one year ago. The number of unemployed was down 4,500 over the year to 21,000. The unemployment rate was below 4 percent in 14 of the last 17 months, only the third such period in the last 41 years.
The U.S. preliminary unemployment rate of 4.5 percent was down from 4.7 percent in February and 5.0 percent one year ago. The New England unemployment rate averaged 3.8 percent in March.
March unemployment rate estimates for other states in the region were 2.8 percent in New Hampshire, 3.0 percent in Vermont, 3.6 percent in Massachusetts, 4.3 percent in Rhode Island, and 4.8 percent in Connecticut.
The employment to population ratio estimate of 61.9 percent remained above the U.S. average of 60.1 percent.
The preliminary nonfarm payroll jobs estimate of 623,000 for March was up 5,300 from one year ago, reaching a new all-time high. The private sector jobs estimate of 523,200 also was a new high. The largest job gains were in the construction; trade, transportation, and utilities; and education and healthcare sectors.
The 99,800 jobs in federal, state, and local governments was unchanged over the year. Government comprised 16.0 percent of nonfarm jobs, the lowest share on record.
The not seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate estimate of 3.6 percent for March was down from 4.5 percent one year ago. Rates declined over the year in all counties. The lowest rate was 2.5 percent in Cumberland County and the highest was 6.9 percent in Washington County.
Unemployment rates were lower than the statewide average in all three metro areas: Portland-South Portland (2.6 percent), Lewiston-Auburn (3.2 percent), and Bangor (3.4 percent).
