Maine's unemployment rate drops to lowest level in 16 years
The January unemployment rate for Maine was the lowest since 2001.
The Maine Department of Labor reported Monday that January’s unemployment rate of 3.5% is down from 3.8% in December and is the lowest rate since March 2001.
The number of unemployed was down 1,300 over the year to 24,300, the department reported.
Maine’s rate was better the nationwide preliminary unemployment rate of 4.8% reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, which is up slightly from the 4.7% reported in December but which returned to 4.7% in February.
Three New England states had better unemployment rates than Maine’s: New Hampshire at 2.7%, Vermont at 3.1%, Massachusetts at 3.2%. Two New England states were worse: Rhode Island at 4.7% and Connecticut at 4.5%.
The unemployment rate was below the statewide average in all three metro areas: Portland-South Portland (3%), Lewiston-Auburn (3.5%) and Bangor (3.9%).
February estimates for Maine will be released on March 24.
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