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December 26, 2018

Maine unemployment rate unchanged at 3.4% in November

Maine’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.4% in November, unchanged from October and up from 3.1% a year earlier, according to preliminary data released on Dec. 21.

That means that jobless rate has been below 4.0% for 36 straight months, the longest period on record, according to the Maine Department of Labor.

Elsewhere in New England, estimated unemployment rates for November were 2.5% in New Hampshire, 2.7% in Vermont, 3.5% in Massachusetts, 3.8% in Rhode Island and 4.1% in Connecticut. New England’s average unemployment rate estimate for the month was 3.5%.

The U.S. preliminary unemployment rate of 3.7% for November was unchanged from October and down from 4.1% a year ago.

December workforce estimates are scheduled for release on Friday, Jan. 18.

While numerous sectors in Maine are grappling with a workforce shortage, growing companies are hiring. They include Origins USA and Origin Labs of Farmington, which plans to add 25 or more jobs in the coming year, and Belfast windows manufacturer Matthews Brothers Co., whose planned expansion to Hermon could add 80 to 100 jobs.

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