Unemployment in most of Maine stayed steady last month, at 3.5 percent. New numbers from the state's Department of Labor say Maine has also gained about 3,000 non-farm jobs in the last year, mostly in retail and manufacturing, and lost the most jobs in mining, logging, and construction. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for April was the same as a year ago, and down slightly from last month's 3.4 percent. Maine's unemployment rate is also slightly below that of the United States, but a little higher than New England as a whole.
Unemployment in the state's three metro areas - Portland-South Portland; Bangor; and Lewiston-Auburn - was below the state average; and the highest unemployment rate was in Washington County, at just over 6 percent.
Maine's unemployment rate is slightly below that of the United States, but a little higher than New England as a whole, at just over 3 percent.
Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont had lower rates of unemployment in April than Maine, but Rhode Island and Connecticut had higher rates.
