January 25, 2022

Summary



Maine Payroll Employment

Maine added 1,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Maine added 300 jobs. Over the past twelve months, Maine added 15,100 payroll jobs, or 2.5 percent. Maine nonfarm payroll employment had increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 199,000 in December, or rose by 0.1 percent. Over the 12-month period ending with December, nonfarm payrolls rose by 6,448,000 jobs, or 4.5 percent. Maine is tied for 36th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

During December, Maine’s private-sector added 1,700 jobs, or approximately 0.3 percent. The private-sector in Maine added 400 jobs in the prior month. Over the past twelve months, private-sector payrolls in Maine added 13,400, or 2.6 percent. Maine private-sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

Nationally, private-sector payroll jobs rose by 211,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Over the past 12 months, the national payroll rose by 5,996,000 jobs in the private sector, or 5 percent. Maine is tied for 43rd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for a percentage gain in private-sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during December were Leisure and Hospitality (1,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (600). The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-100) and Financial Activities (-200).

The best performing sectors during the last twelve months were Leisure and Hospitality (5,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (4,600). The poorest performing sectors during the last twelve months were Education and Health Services (-200) and Financial Activities (-300).



Maine Labor Force Statistics

Labor Force Participation

The labor force participation rate in Maine fell to 60.1 percent in December from 60.3 percent in the prior month. At a labor force participation rate of 60.1 percent, Maine is tied for 37th in the nation. The labor force participation rate in Maine rose by 0.6 percentage point from a year earlier. The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maine was 65.1 percent in July 2013. The series high for the labor force participation rate in Maine last occurred in March 2000 when the labor force participation rate hit 68.8 percent. The 10-year low for the labor force participation rate was 58.6 percent in April 2020. This also represents the series low for the labor force participation rate in Maine.

The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.9 percent in December. That rate rose by 0.4 percentage point from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national labor force participation rate was 67.3 percent in April 2000. The 10-year high for the national labor force participation rate was 63.8 percent in October 2012. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020 at a level of 60.2 percent. The series low for the national labor force participation rate was 58.1 percent in December 1954.

Employment-to-Population Ratio

The employment-to-population ratio, or the percentage of the Maine civilian noninstitutionalized population 16 years and older counted as employed, in December fell to 57.3 from 57.4 percent in the prior month. At 57.3 percent, Maine is tied for 36th among state employment-to-population ratios in the nation. The employment-to-population ratio in Maine rose by 0.8 percentage point from a year earlier.

The 10-year high for the employment-to-population ratio in Maine was 61.6 percent last occurring in May 2017. The series high for the employment-to-population ratio in Maine last occurred in April 2000 when the employment-to-population ratio hit 66.4 percent. The 10-year low for the employment-to-population ratio was 53.3 percent in April 2020. This also represents the series low for the employment-to-population ratio in Maine.

The national employment-to-population ratio rose by 0.2 percentage point over the month to 59.5 percent in December. That rate rose by 2.1 percentage points from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national employment-to-population rato was 64.7 percent in April 2000. The 10-year high for the national employment-to-population ratio was 61.2 percent in February 2020. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020 at a level of 51.3 percent. The series low for the employment-to-population ratio was 51.3 percent in April 2020.