The unemployment rates in Maine’s three urban areas remained pretty low in May.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday that unemployment in Bangor was 3 percent, in Lewiston-Auburn 2.8 percent, and in Portland-South Portland 2.4 percent.
All of those figures were unchanged from April and at or below the comparable state figure of 3.1 percent.
A solid economy and an aging workforce are both acting to hold down unemployment in the state.
The federal figures show 96 metro areas - about a third of the total - had jobless rates below 3 percent. That included all three metro areas in New Hampshire: Manchester, 2.5 percent; Dover-Durham, 2.4 percent, and Portsmouth, 2.3 percent.
Boston also continued to enjoy low unemployment: just 3.1 percent.