Maine unemployment rate 8.1 percent

    State Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman announced that the preliminary seasonally-adjusted March unemployment rate for Maine was 8.1 percent, up from a revised rate of 7.8 percent for February and 5.0 percent for March 2008. The national unemployment rate was 8.5 percent for March, up from 8.1 percent for February and 5.1 percent for March 2008.     “March was another tough month for workers and businesses, as the global recession continued to take a toll on the Maine economy,” said Fortman.  “Although Maine’s unemployment rate continued to track slightly below the national rate, 2,600 jobs were lost in Maine over the month, led by losses in construction, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional and business services.”
    Between March 2008 and March 2009, the number of seasonally-adjusted nonfarm wage and salary jobs fell 17,000. Job losses were registered in trade, transportation, and utilities; manufacturing; construction; leisure and hospitality services; financial activities; government; professional and business services; information; and other services. Job gains were recorded in educational and health services.
    Other New England states reporting a seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for March include New Hampshire, 6.2 percent; Connecticut, 7.5 percent; Massachusetts, 7.8 percent; and Rhode Island, 10.5 percent.
    The not-seasonally-adjusted Maine unemployment rate for March was 8.9 percent, unchanged from 8.9 percent for February and up from 5.5 percent for March 2008. The unadjusted national rate was 9.0 percent for March, up from 8.9 percent for February and 5.2 percent for March 2008. Not-seasonally-adjusted March unemployment rates for Maine counties ranged from 6.7 percent for Cumberland County to 13.5 percent for Piscataquis County.