Overall unemployment rate moved down to 2.1% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 500 roles, based on the most recently available information published in May 2023.

Total employment in the Portsmouth, NH-ME market declined by 386 jobs in March and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 10 bps to 2.1%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 27 bps over the same time to 3.6%.

  • Portsmouth, NH-ME unemployment rate is 152 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 30 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in March versus prior month by 6% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Portsmouth, NH-ME Unemployment March 2023

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.2% . Key sectors include:

  • Transportation & Utilities: 16,500; +100
  • Business Services: 15,500; no change
  • Government: 14,800; -200
  • Education & Healthcare: 13,900; -100
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 10,500; +500
  • Manufacturing: 9,800; -100
  • Financial Services: 5,400; no change
  • Construction, Mining: 3,000; no change
  • Other Jobs: 2,900; no change
  • IT & Development: 1,800; no change
Portsmouth, NH-ME Unemployment by Industry March 2023

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through March 2023 (Data published May 2023 and reports created on May 9,2023).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.