AUGUSTA (AP) – Maine’s unemployment rate fell in November, but two economic policy groups say the state has not gained the jobs that were anticipated with President Bush’s tax cuts.

Last month’s 4.9 percent jobless rate was down from 5.1 percent in October, but is up from 4.7 percent a year ago. The national unemployment rate is 5.9 percent.

With seasonal adjustments, jobless rates ranged from 3 percent in Cumberland County to 9.3 percent in Somerset County.

An analysis of employment data by the Economic Policy Institute and the Maine Center for Economic Policy says Maine has not experienced the job growth that was projected with tax cuts designed to stimulate the economy and produce new jobs.

The groups said the Bush administration predicted the tax cuts would result in the creation of 5,000 new jobs in Maine from June to November. But the groups said the state instead has lost 1,700 jobs during that time.

The study found that manufacturing has been the hardest-hit sector, with a loss of 8,100 jobs from November 2001 to November 2003.

Education and health service sectors have added jobs during the period, but those jobs pay less than manufacturing, the organizations said.

Around northern New England, seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for November were 4 percent in Vermont and 4.3 percent in New Hampshire.

Maine’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate has stayed between 4.9 percent and 5.1 percent since July, according to Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman.

From November 2002 to November 2003 in Maine, seasonally adjusted nonfarm wage and salary jobs declined by 200 to 603,600, according to state officials.

Losses came in paper, computers and electronic equipment, and textile and apparel manufacturing, while gains were recorded in educational and health services and retail trade, officials said.