Maine’s jobless rate increases in March

AUGUSTA – Maine’s unemployment rate moved upward in March.

According to the Department of Labor, the seasonally adjusted jobless rate rose from 4.8 percent in February to 5.1 percent in March, matching the national unemployment rate for the month.

Commissioner Laura Fortman said unemployment is rising as economic activity slows.

The lowest jobless rate was 4.1 percent in Cumberland County. Washington County had the highest rate, with 10.9 percent unemployment.

New Hampshire’s unemployment also went up a fraction in March. The March unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, up two-tenths of a point from February, according to state officials.

In real numbers, the state says there were nearly 29,000 unemployed residents in March.