Unemployment rate
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Why This Indicator Matters
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "When workers are unemployed, they, their families, and the country as a whole lose. Workers and their families lose wages, and the country loses the goods or services that could have been produced. In addition, the purchasing power of these workers is lost, which can lead to unemployment for yet other workers."
Why it is important:
Work is often the route to financial independence for families in poverty. Even though a minimum wage job is not enough to lift a family out of poverty, in most circumstances, families have more income if they work than if they do not.
What the data shows this year:
In Maine, the unemployment rate is below the national average and below the New England average. The three southern most counties along the coast, York and Cumberland and Sagadahoc Counties have the lowest unemployment rates.
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Why it is important:
Work is often the route to financial independence for families in poverty. Even though a minimum wage job is not enough to lift a family out of poverty, in most circumstances, families have more income if they work than if they do not.
What the data shows this year:
In Maine, the unemployment rate is below the national average and below the New England average. The three southern most counties along the coast, York and Cumberland and Sagadahoc Counties have the lowest unemployment rates.
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Data Provided By
Definitions: Unemployment is the estimated annual monthly average number and percent of people in the civilian labor force who are unemployed and looking for work. The numerator is the average number of people unemployed and looking for work and the denominator is the average number of people in the civilian labor force who are either working or looking for work.
Data Source:
Maine Department of Labor, Center for Workforce Research & Information
Accessed 3/20/2018
Footnotes: Updated March 2018