October 2024 | Released November 19, 2024

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In October, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 21.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia and Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in October.

• In October, payroll jobs rose in 21 states and fell in 30. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1 percent in Washington.

Maine Employment Snapshot

• In October, Maine added 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.9 percent. In the prior month, Maine added 800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maine added 6,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from 3.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Maine is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In October, Maine’s private sector added 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maine added 1,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In October, employment in Maine rose by 1,130, and over the past 12 months it rose by 17,155.

• Maine’s labor force participation rate rose to 60.2 percent in October from 60.1 percent and ranks 38th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.8 percentage points.

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Maine Payroll Employment

• Maine added 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. 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 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Maine is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maine added 600 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Maine added 1,000 jobs. Maine private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs fell by 28,000 jobs in October, or 0 percent. Maine is tied for 33rd 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 October were Education and Health Services (500) and Professional and Business Services tied with Leisure and Hospitality (300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (3,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (2,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500) and Professional and Business Services (-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 rose to 60.2 percent in October from 60.1 percent in the prior month.

• Maine ranks 38th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maine was 63.8 percent occurring in July 2017, and the 10-year low was 58.1 percent in August 2020.

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