Maine Unemployment Rate remains unchanged

FROM the BLS:

Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from September, 5 states had increases, and 11 states had no change . . . Forty-two states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, five states had increases, and thee states had no change.

In Maine, the UER remained unchanged from last month at 5.8%, but more importantly is down 0.7 percentage points from a year ago, and down from a recession high of 8.4% in 2009.  The month-over-month and year-over-year trends parallel regional changes.

In New England, the UER ticked down to 5.9%, down 0.1 percentage points from last month, and down 1.2 percentage points from a year ago.  The northeast (New England and the Middle Atlantic region) saw the UER drop up 0.2 percentage points to 5.9% from July, down 1.4 percentage points from a year ago.

Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrolls decreased 1,900** from a month ago, but were up 5,800 from a year ago.  The year-over-year payroll changes by industry saw government continue to shed jobs, while the majority of new jobs were in education and health services:

  • Construction:  600
  • Manufacturing:  400
  • Trade/Trans./Util.:  700
  • Financial Activities:  700
  • Pro./Bus. Services:  1,700
  • Education/Health Svcs:  1,900
  • Leisure/Hospitality:  1,700
  • Government:  -600

The number of unemployed persons declined 5,300 from a year ago, down to 40,800, but edged up 200 from last month.

*The data is subject to subsequent revisions, and monthly data is volatile and should be taken with a grain of salt.

**Previously I noted the decline in employment in the title.  I don’t put much thought into titles because they’re, well, titles.  Regardless, I removed the decrease in month-over-month in the title because, after a brief discussion, I don’t want to overstate the value/importance of this change because, as noted, such monthly change is volatile. 

John Haskell

About John Haskell

John graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in Political Science, and from the University of Maine School of Law. He has worked in both the public and private sectors, and currently, works with a small business services company in the Mid-Coast area.