United States Employment Snapshot
In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 21.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in North Dakota and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In May, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Minnesota.
In May, Maine added 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, Maine added 800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Maine added 9,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 2.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Maine is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Maine’s private sector added 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 7,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maine added 700 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Maine rose by 2,241, and over the past 12 months it rose by 6,419.
Maine’s labor force participation rate rose to 59.5 percent in May from 59.4 percent and ranks 42nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.
Maine Payroll Employment
Maine added 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Maine added 800 jobs. Maine nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Maine is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Maine added 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Maine added 700 jobs. Maine private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Maine is tied for 24th 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 May were Leisure and Hospitality (800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (700).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-500) and Construction (-700).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (6,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (2,000).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing tied with Financial Activities (-300) and Construction tied with Other Services (-500).
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 rose to 59.5 percent in May from 59.4 percent in the prior month.
Maine ranks 42nd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maine was 64.2 percent in May 2014, and the 10-year low was 58.1 percent in August 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.