Maine’s August jobless rate falls

AUGUSTA – Maine’s unemployment rate edged down slightly in August to 4.7 percent. It was 4.8 percent in July and 5.0 percent a year ago. The Maine Department of Labor announced the rate Wednesday.

Laura Fortman, Maine labor commissioner, said 684,300 Maine people had jobs in August, up 5,100 from the July total.

Job gains were recorded in professional and business services, health care and social assistance, local government, construction, and leisure and hospitality services. Job losses were primarily in manufacturing.

Other New England states reporting a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August were New Hampshire, 3.5 percent; Connecticut, 4.5 percent; Massachusetts, 4.9 percent; and Rhode Island, 5.6 percent. The equivalent national rate was 4.7 percent.

Maine’s county rates varied from 3.1 percent in Cumberland County to 6.0 percent in Aroostook County.

Maine’s unemployment rates are adjusted to reflect seasonal changes in the labor market.