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News Release

Released: Tuesday, September 19 at 10 a.m.

Contact: Glenn Mills, 207-530-2079

The Employment Situation in Maine – August 2023

Jobs and unemployment have changed little recently. The 2.5 percent unemployment rate was close to the record low of the previous four months. The number of nonfarm wage and salary jobs recovered from an out-of-trend low estimate for July to similar levels to those of the previous eight months.

Download data as a spreadsheet: Nonfarm Payroll Job Estimates | LAUS Seasonally Adjusted Data

This news release presents estimates derived from two monthly surveys. The Current Population Survey collects information from households on labor force status, including labor force participation, employment, and unemployment. The Current Employment Statistics survey collects information from nonfarm employers by industry on the number of jobs, hours worked, and wages paid to individuals on their payrolls. Both surveys are administered by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Preliminary estimates from the two surveys sometimes diverge in direction or magnitude of change. Annual revisions published each spring tend to bring them in to better alignment.

Statewide Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force Estimates

The unemployment rate was 2.5 percent, little changed from the 2.4 percent of the previous four months. Unemployment has been below four percent for 21 consecutive months – the third longest period of such low rates. The increase in unemployment stemmed from higher labor force participation rather than from decreased employment, as also occurred nationally.

Three-month averages generally provide a better indication of workforce conditions as they smooth some of the variability in sample-based estimates and they reflect revisions for previous months. The 2.4 percent average unemployment rate for June to August was little changed from 2.5 percent for the three months through May. In that period average labor force participation and employment to population rates increased.

Over the Month Change in Labor Force (Seasonally Adjusted)
Metric Jul Aug Change
Labor Force Participation Rate 58.5% 58.6% 0.1%
Employment to Population Ratio 57.1% 57.1% 0.0%
Unemployment Rate 2.4% 2.5% 0.1%
Three-Month Average Labor Force (Seasonally Adjusted)
Metric Mar to May Jun to Aug Change
Labor Force Participation Rate 58.1% 58.5% 0.4%
Employment to Population Ratio 56.7% 57.1% 0.4%
Unemployment Rate 2.5% 2.4% -0.1%

The unemployment rate for Maine was below U.S. and New England 3.8 and 2.7 percent rates for August.

Statewide Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Jobs Estimates

The estimated 646,800 nonfarm wage and salary jobs is up 2,800 from July and 6,400 from a year ago. Most of the monthly increase was in leisure and hospitality, which rebounded from a July estimate that was below the recent trend. Except for July, nonfarm jobs estimates have essentially been unchanged since November.

The average number of jobs from June to August was unchanged from the average for March to May. The three-month average through August was 1.3 percentage points higher than the average for calendar year 2019, before the pandemic. Private sector jobs were 1.7 percent higher and government jobs were 0.4 percent lower, mostly in public higher education.

Industry Jobs (in thousands) Change in Jobs
2019 Annual Averages Aug 2022 July 2023 Aug 2023 Preliminary Estimates Over the Month Over the Year Most Recent 3 Months Compared to Previous 3 Months Most Recent 3 Months Compared to 2019 Average
Net Percent Net Percent Net Percent Net Percent
Total Nonfarm 637.1 640.4 644.0 646.8 2.8 0.4% 6.4 1.0% 0.0 0.0% 8.5 1.3%
Total Private 535.9 540.4 543.1 545.8 2.7 0.5% 5.4 1.0% -0.2 0.0% 9.0 1.7%
Mining & Logging 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2 0.1 4.8% 0.1 4.8% 0.0 0.2% 0.0 -1.5%
Construction 30.1 32.5 32.6 32.9 0.3 0.9% 0.4 1.2% -0.1 -0.2% 2.8 9.4%
Manufacturing 53.2 54.5 54.2 53.9 -0.3 -0.6% -0.6 -1.1% -0.1 -0.2% 0.9 1.7%
Wholesale Trade 19.6 19.6 19.8 19.8 0.0 0.0% 0.2 1.0% 0.0 -0.1% 0.3 1.4%
Retail Trade 80.4 81.0 80.6 80.8 0.2 0.2% -0.2 -0.2% -0.2 -0.2% 0.2 0.2%
Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities 18.7 19.0 18.6 18.5 -0.1 -0.5% -0.5 -2.6% -0.1 -0.4% -0.2 -0.9%
Information 7.2 7.9 7.9 7.9 0.0 0.0% 0.0 0.0% 0.0 0.2% 0.7 9.7%
Financial Activities 33.0 33.9 33.8 33.6 -0.2 -0.6% -0.3 -0.9% -0.1 -0.2% 0.8 2.4%
Professional & Business Services 70.0 76.0 76.4 77.2 0.8 1.0% 1.2 1.6% -0.1 -0.1% 6.6 9.4%
Educational Services 22.5 22.9 23.3 23.1 -0.2 -0.9% 0.2 0.9% 0.0 0.2% 0.7 3.0%
Healthcare & Social Assistance 106.8 103.0 106.8 106.6 -0.2 -0.2% 3.6 3.5% 0.3 0.3% -0.3 -0.3%
Leisure & Hospitality 70.1 65.9 65.1 67.3 2.2 3.4% 1.4 2.1% 0.0 0.1% -3.4 -4.8%
Other Services 22.3 22.1 21.9 22.0 0.1 0.5% -0.1 -0.5% 0.0 0.0% -0.3 -1.3%
Government 101.2 100.0 100.9 101.0 0.1 0.1% 1.0 1.0% 0.2 0.2% -0.4 -0.4%
Federal Government 16.1 16.5 17.2 17.3 0.1 0.6% 0.8 4.8% 0.0 0.2% 1.1 6.8%
State Government 25.5 23.9 23.7 23.8 0.1 0.4% -0.1 -0.4% -0.1 -0.2% -1.8 -6.9%
Local Government 59.6 59.6 60.0 59.9 -0.1 -0.2% 0.3 0.5% 0.2 0.3% 0.2 0.4%
Numbers may not add due to rounding. Calculations of change are based on unrounded data.

County and Metro Not Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force Estimates

On a not seasonally adjusted basis the statewide unemployment rate was 2.5 percent. Of the 16 counties, rates were at least 0.3 percentage points higher than that in eight counties, at least 0.3 points lower than that in five, and close to the average in three. Rates were lowest in Hancock and highest in Piscataquis counties.

Among the three metro areas of the state, unemployment was below the statewide average in Portland-S. Portland and close to the average in Bangor and Lewiston-Auburn.

(Labor force estimates for substate areas, including unemployment rates, are not seasonally adjusted. Because of this, estimates for a certain month should be compared to the same month in other years and should not be compared to other months.)

August Labor Force Estimates (not seasonally-adjusted)
County Employed Unemployed Unemployment Rate
2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023
Counties
Androscoggin 50,980 51,790 1,280 1,470 2.5% 2.8%
Aroostook 27,380 27,740 810 910 2.9% 3.2%
Cumberland 161,400 164,520 3,210 3,750 1.9% 2.2%
Franklin 13,140 13,230 370 420 2.7% 3.1%
Hancock 30,420 30,900 620 670 2.0% 2.1%
Kennebec 60,000 60,640 1,380 1,520 2.3% 2.4%
Knox 20,180 20,520 430 470 2.1% 2.2%
Lincoln 17,230 17,510 350 400 2.0% 2.2%
Oxford 25,560 25,920 690 760 2.6% 2.8%
Penobscot 72,200 72,500 1,840 2,080 2.5% 2.8%
Piscataquis 7,160 6,930 210 280 2.9% 3.8%
Sagadahoc 18,750 18,880 370 420 1.9% 2.2%
Somerset 21,320 21,480 670 770 3.0% 3.5%
Waldo 20,260 20,300 490 560 2.3% 2.7%
Washington 13,130 13,300 410 400 3.0% 2.9%
York 111,550 113,450 2,200 2,620 1.9% 2.3%
Metropolitian Areas
Bangor 66,700 67,090 1,570 1,800 2.3% 2.6%
Lewiston-Auburn 51,270 52,090 1,280 1,470 2.4% 2.7%
Portland-S Portland 204,250 208,410 4,020 4,750 1.9% 2.2%
Maine and U.S.
Maine 670,660 679,590 15,310 17,500 2.2% 2.5%
U.S. (in thousands) 158,710 161,430 6,260 6,620 3.8% 3.9%

Statewide and Metro Area Not Seasonally Adjusted Hours and Earnings Estimates

The private sector workweek averaged 33.7 hours and earnings averaged $29.85 per hour in August. Average hours decreased 0.7 and hourly earnings increased 3.6 percent from a year earlier. Earnings increases were led by a 12.4 percent gain in manufacturing. The workweek was longest in construction and shortest in leisure and hospitality. Earnings were highest in professional and business services and lowest in leisure and hospitality.

Hourly earnings were higher than the statewide average in the Portland-S. Portland metro and lower in Bangor and Lewiston-Auburn.

August Average Hours and Earnings Estimates (not seasonally-adjusted)
Sector/Area Weekly Hours Hourly Earnings
2022 2023 Change 2022 2023 % Change
Sectors Statewide
Total Private 34.4 33.7 -0.7 $28.81 $29.85 3.6%
Construction 40.1 39.9 -0.2 $29.09 $30.97 6.5%
Manufacturing 40.2 38.9 -1.3 $26.82 $30.14 12.4%
Trade, Transportation & Utilities 33.7 32.9 -0.8 $24.64 $25.51 3.5%
Professional & Business Services 35.6 34.7 -0.9 $32.89 $35.40 7.6%
Education & Health Services 33.1 33.3 0.2 $33.25 $33.04 -0.6%
Leisure & Hospitality 29.6 29.5 -0.1 $21.39 $22.71 6.2%
Metropolitian Areas, Private Sector
Bangor 34.7 35.1 0.4 $26.94 $28.71 6.6%
Lewiston-Auburn 35.8 34.7 -1.1 $27.14 $28.77 6.0%
Portland-S Portland 34.3 33.2 -1.1 $31.74 $32.22 1.5%
United States 34.5 34.4 -0.1 $32.24 $33.60 4.2%

June workforce estimates will be released Friday, October 20 at 10 a.m. The data release schedule is here
Nonfarm jobs data is available here.
Unemployment and labor force data is available here.

Notes:
  1. Preliminary seasonally-adjusted labor force estimates, including rates (labor force participation, employment, and unemployment rates), and levels (labor force, employed, and unemployed), as well as nonfarm wage and salary job estimates are inexact. Annual revisions (published in March each year) add accuracy. A comparison of 2021 and 2022 revised and previously published estimates is available in this blog.
  2. The 90 percent confidence interval for the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August was between 1.8 and 3.2 percent.
  3. Nonfarm wage and salary jobs from the payroll survey provide a better indication of changes in employment than resident employment from the household survey. The payroll survey is larger and has smaller margins of error.
  4. Nonfarm payroll jobs estimates tend to be volatile from month to month because of variability in the sample of reporting employers and their representativeness of all employers. Seasonal adjustment is imperfect because weather, the beginning and ending of school semesters, and other events do not always occur with the same timing relative to the pay period that includes the 12th day of the month, which is the survey reference period. This sometimes exacerbates monthly changes in jobs estimates. Users should look to the trend over multiple months rather than the change from one specific month to another. Jobs estimates for the period from April 2022 to September 2023 will be replaced with payroll data in March 2024. Those benchmark revisions usually show less monthly variability than preliminary estimates do.