Jobless rate in April unchanged in Maine

AUGUSTA – Maine’s unemployment rate in April remained unchanged from the previous month at 4.7 percent, the state Labor Department said Friday.

April’s rate is 0.3 percentage point higher than the rate for April 2004, but also 0.5 percentage point below the national jobless figure of 5.2 percent.

Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said employment growth kept pace with an increase in the number of Maine residents seeking work between March and April, resulting in the unchanged unemployment rate.

Maine’s figures are adjusted to account for seasonal fluctuations in the labor market.

Other New England states reporting their seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for April include Vermont, 3.3 percent; New Hampshire, 3.4 percent; and Connecticut, 4.9 percent.