Department of Numbers

Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lewiston fell 0.3 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points higher than the Maine rate. The unemployment rate in Lewiston peaked in January 2010 at 9.2% and is now 5.8 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.5% in May 2019, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.9 percentage points. You can also compare Lewiston unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Maine 2.9% -0.2 -0.7
Lewiston 3.4% -0.3 -0.9
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Lewiston, Maine, National

Lewiston, Maine monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lewiston, Maine Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lewiston peaked in May 2009 at 5,241. There are now 3,408 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,431 in May 2019, the number of unemployed has now grown by 402. Lewiston employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lewiston, Maine) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Lewiston 1,833 -138 -508

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lewiston, Maine Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Maine
Unemployment Rate
Lewiston
Unemployment Rate
Lewiston
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 2.9% 3.4% 1,833
December
2022
3.5% 3.1% 3.7% 1,971
November
2022
3.6% 3.1% 3.6% 1,911
October
2022
3.7% 3.1% 3.4% 1,831
September
2022
3.5% 3.0% 3.2% 1,728
August
2022
3.7% 2.7% 3.1% 1,658
July
2022
3.5% 2.7% 3.0% 1,647
June
2022
3.6% 2.6% 3.2% 1,720
May
2022
3.6% 2.6% 3.3% 1,797
April
2022
3.6% 2.7% 3.5% 1,909
March
2022
3.6% 2.9% 3.8% 2,076

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.