Maine's unemployment rate held steady in July at 5.5 percent, the same rate recorded in June but significantly down from the 6.7 percent rate recorded a year ago. State labor officials say the number of jobless Mainers fell 8,700 over the year, to 38,800.
State officials say it's the lowest unemployment rate in Maine since August of 2008. The state's jobless rate is also below the national average of 6.2 percent, which was little changed from 6.1 percent in June and down from 7.4 percent a year ago.
Maine's July unemployment rate was also lower than the 5.8 average for the New England region. Vermont had the lowest rate of 3.7 percent, followed by New Hampshire at 4.4 percent, Massachusetts at 5.6 percent, Connecticut at 6.6 percent and Rhode Island at 7.7 percent.