Overall unemployment rate moved up to 2.6% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which lost 1,000 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2023.

Total employment in the Portsmouth, NH-ME market rose by 231 jobs in January and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 2.6%. The national unemployment rate increased by 60 bps over the same time to 3.9%.

  • Portsmouth, NH-ME unemployment rate is 126 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 January versus prior month by 3.9% 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 January 2023

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -2.3%. Key sectors include:

  • Transportation & Utilities: 16,500; -300
  • Business Services: 15,100; -400
  • Government: 14,800; -200
  • Education & Healthcare: 13,900; -100
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 9,800; -1,000
  • Manufacturing: 9,700; -100
  • Financial Services: 5,400; no change
  • Construction, Mining: 3,000; -100
  • Other Jobs: 2,900; no change
  • IT & Development: 1,800; no change
Portsmouth, NH-ME Unemployment by Industry January 2023

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2023 (Data published March 2023 and reports created on March 17, 2023).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.