Unemployment holds steady; job growth flat
Maine's unemployment rate remained steady in September at 7.5%, the Maine Department of Labor reported Friday. Meanwhile, a separate analysis shows job creation didn't measure up to expectations this year.
The preliminary seasonally adjusted rate was little changed from the revised rate of 7.6% in August as well as September 2010, according to a DOL press release. The number of unemployed totaled 51,900, down 1,300 from one year ago. Unemployment rates in Maine's metro areas were 5.6% in Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, 6.4% in Bangor and 6.8% in Lewiston-Auburn. The national unemployment rate for last month was 9.1%, unchanged from August and down from 9.6% one year ago. The New England average was 7.7%.
In related news, an analysis by the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram found that the job growth state economists predicted this year has not occurred. Economists in February projected 6,000 jobs would be created this year, but the number of nonfarm jobs has remained flat at about 597,900 due to continued decreases in construction and manufacturing. Additionally, increases in health care and education employment haven't been enough to offset the losses. In January, five economists told Mainebiz they anticipated job growth ranging from 0.5%, or about 3,000 jobs, to as high as 2.3% in 2011.
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