The preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8 percent for August was little changed from 3.7 percent in July and 4.0 percent one year ago. The number of unemployed was down 1,000 over the year to 26,800. At 23 months, this is the second longest period in more than 40 years that the unemployment rate has been 4.0 percent or less.

The U.S. preliminary unemployment rate of 4.4 percent for August was little changed from 4.3 percent for July and down from 4.9 percent one year ago. The New England unemployment rate averaged 4.0 percent.

August unemployment rate estimates for other states in the region were 2.7 percent in New Hampshire, 3.0 percent in Vermont, 4.2 percent in Massachusetts, 4.3 percent in Rhode Island, and 4.8 percent in Connecticut.

The employment to population ratio estimate of 61.7 percent remained above the U.S. average of 60.1 percent.

Payroll Survey Estimates – The preliminary nonfarm payroll jobs estimate was up 2,700 from one year ago to 620,800 in August. The largest job gains continued to be in the healthcare, hospitality, and construction sectors.

Not Seasonally Adjusted Substate Data The not seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate estimate of 3.1 percent for August was down slightly from 3.3 percent one year ago. The lowest rate was 2.5 percent in Cumberland County and the highest was 4.7 percent in Washington County.

The unemployment rate was below the statewide average in the Portland-South Portland (2.5 percent) metro area and close to the average in the Lewiston-Auburn (3.0 percent) and Bangor (3.3 percent) metro areas.

September estimates will be released on Friday, October 20 (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.