Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Portland rose 0.2 percentage points in March 2012 to 5.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 1.3 percentage points lower than the Maine rate. The unemployment rate in Portland peaked in August 2009 at 7.1% and is now 1.2 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 5.7% in January 2012, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Portland unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	8.2%	-0.1	-0.7
Maine	7.2%	+0.1	-0.6
Portland	5.9%	+0.2	-0.2

Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.¹ All comparisons are made with March 2012 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Portland, Maine, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Portland, Maine Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Portland peaked in October 2009 at 14,425. There are now 2,348 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 11,643 in January 2012, the number of unemployed has now grown by 434. Portland employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Portland, Maine) is also available.

Unemployed Persons	March 2012	Month/Month	Year/Year
Portland	12,077	+333	-290

Number of Unemployed Persons

Portland, Maine Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	Maine Unemployment Rate	Portland Unemployment Rate	Portland Unemployed
April 2012	8.1%	7.2%	—	—
March 2012	8.2%	7.2%	5.9%	12,077
February 2012	8.3%	7.1%	5.7%	11,744
January 2012	8.3%	7.0%	5.7%	11,643
December 2011	8.5%	7.0%	5.8%	11,730
November 2011	8.7%	7.1%	5.8%	11,897
October 2011	8.9%	7.3%	6.0%	12,187
September 2011	9.0%	7.4%	6.0%	12,298
August 2011	9.1%	7.5%	6.0%	12,284
July 2011	9.1%	7.6%	6.1%	12,462
June 2011	9.1%	7.6%	6.2%	12,748
May 2011	9.0%	7.7%	6.2%	12,694
April 2011	9.0%	7.7%	6.1%	12,511