Overall unemployment rate moved down to 3.5% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which lost 6,100 roles, based on the most recently available information published in November 2021.
Total employment in the Portland-South Portland, ME market declined by 3,442 jobs in September and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 40 bps to 3.5%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 72 bps over the same time to 4.6%.
- Portland-South Portland, ME unemployment rate is 106 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 50 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in September versus prior month by 4.6% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -3.1%. Key sectors include:
- Education & Healthcare: 42,600; -500
- Transportation & Utilities: 36,500; -1,100
- Business Services: 30,500; -400
- Government: 22,300; +2,200
- Restaurants & Hotels: 21,700; -6,100
- Financial Services: 16,600; -200
- Manufacturing: 15,100; -100
- Construction, Mining: 10,700; no change
- Other Jobs: 7,600; -300
- IT & Development: 3,000; no change
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through September 2021 (Data published November 2021 and reports created on November 3, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.