Overall unemployment rate moved down to 4.5% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 3,500 roles, based on the most recently available information published in September 2021.
Total employment in the Portland-South Portland, ME market rose by 5,066 jobs in July and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 10 bps to 4.5%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 43 bps over the same time to 5.7%.
- Portland-South Portland, ME unemployment rate is 116 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 430 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in July versus prior month by 4.3% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 1.3% . Key sectors include:
- Education & Healthcare: 42,000; -300
- Transportation & Utilities: 37,400; +100
- Business Services: 31,400; +700
- Restaurants & Hotels: 27,600; +3,500
- Government: 20,500; -1,800
- Financial Services: 17,000; -100
- Manufacturing: 15,000; +100
- Construction, Mining: 10,800; +100
- Other Jobs: 8,100; +500
- IT & Development: 3,000; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through July 2021 (Data published September 2021 and reports created on September 1, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.