AUGUSTA – Unemployment remained at historically low rates and payroll job growth continued through the first half of 2017.

Seasonally Adjusted Statewide Data

Household Survey Estimates – The preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.5 percent for June was up from 3.2 percent in May and down from 3.9 percent one year ago. The number of unemployed was down 2,500 over the year to 24,700. The unemployment rate has been 4 percent or less for 21 consecutive months.

The U.S. preliminary unemployment rate of 4.4 percent for June was little changed from 4.3 percent for May and down from 4.9 percent one year ago. The New England unemployment rate averaged 4.1 percent.

June unemployment rate estimates for other states in the region were 2.9 percent in New Hampshire, 3.2 percent in Vermont, 4.3 percent in Massachusetts, 4.2 percent in Rhode Island, and 5.0 percent in Connecticut.

The employment to population ratio estimate of 61.8 percent remained above the U.S. average of 60.1 percent.

Payroll Survey Estimates – The preliminary nonfarm payroll jobs estimate was up 6,900 from one year ago to 623,300 in June. The largest job gains were in the healthcare, hospitality, and construction sectors.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Substate Data

The not seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate estimate of 3.6 percent for June was down from 3.8 percent one year ago. The lowest rate was 3.0 percent in Cumberland County and the highest was 5.6 percent in Aroostook County.

The unemployment rate was below the statewide average in the Portland-South Portland (3.0 percent) metro area and close to the average in the Lewiston-Auburn (3.5 percent) and Bangor (3.8 percent) metro areas.

July estimates will be released on Friday, August 18 (Data Release Schedule: http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/releaseDates.html ).

This release is available at http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/news/release.html .

Labor force and unemployment data is available at http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/laus1.html .

Nonfarm payroll jobs data is available at http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/ces1.html .

Monthly workforce estimates are cooperatively produced and released by the Maine Department of Labor, Center for Workforce Research and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.