Overall unemployment rate moved up to 5.7% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 1,900 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2021.
Total employment in the Portland-South Portland, ME market declined by 3,499 jobs in January and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 140 bps to 5.7%. The national unemployment rate increased by 31 bps over the same time to 6.8%.
- Portland-South Portland, ME unemployment rate is 111 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 260 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in January versus prior month by 8.9% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -2.7%. Key sectors include:
- Education & Healthcare: 41,800; -400
- Transportation & Utilities: 35,600; -1,900
- Business Services: 28,700; no change
- Government: 22,100; -600
- Financial Services: 16,600; -400
- Manufacturing: 14,400; -200
- Restaurants & Hotels: 13,800; -1,100
- Construction, Mining: 9,500; -600
- Other Jobs: 7,000; -100
- IT & Development: 3,100; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2021 (Data published March 2021 and reports created on March 25, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.