January 2025

Released March 17, 2025

Download the full PDF for Maine

Download the summary PDF for Maine

United States Employment Snapshot

• In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.

• In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.

Maine Employment Snapshot

• In January, Maine added 1,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Maine lost 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maine added 3,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 2.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Maine is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Maine’s private sector added 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maine lost 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Maine rose by 71, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,873.

• Maine’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 60.3 percent in January and ranks 38th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

---

Maine Payroll Employment

• Maine added 1,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Maine lost 100 jobs. Maine nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Maine is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maine added 800 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Maine lost 500 jobs. Maine private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Maine is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during January were Education and Health Services (900) and Leisure and Hospitality (500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities (-100) and Professional and Business Services (-900).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (1,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (1,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-400) and Manufacturing (-800).

Maine Labor Force

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 labor force participation rate in Maine remained unchanged at 60.3 percent in January.

• Maine ranks 38th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maine was 63.7 percent occurring in June 2017, and the 10-year low was 58.2 percent occurring in August 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.