Overall unemployment rate moved down to 2.6% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 400 roles, based on the most recently available information published in September 2021.

Total employment in the Portsmouth, NH-ME market declined by 283 jobs in August and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 50 bps to 2.6%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 38 bps over the same time to 5.3%.

  • Portsmouth, NH-ME unemployment rate is 269 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 270 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in August versus prior month by 6.7% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Portsmouth, NH-ME Unemployment August 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.4%. Key sectors include:

  • Transportation & Utilities: 16,100; -400
  • Business Services: 14,700; no change
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 14,300; -200
  • Education & Healthcare: 13,900; +200
  • Government: 12,900; -100
  • Manufacturing: 9,100; no change
  • Financial Services: 5,600; no change
  • Construction, Mining: 3,100; +100
  • Other Jobs: 2,800; no change
  • IT & Development: 2,100; no change
Portsmouth, NH-ME Unemployment by Industry August 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through August 2021 (Data published September 2021 and reports created on September 29, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.