Maine’s March jobless rate dropped to its lowest point since February 2008.

The preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.8 percent for March was down from 5.0 percent in February and 5.8 percent one year ago, according to a release from the Maine Department of Labor.

The U.S. preliminary unemployment rate of 5.5 percent was unchanged from February and down from 6.6 percent one year ago. The New England unemployment rate averaged 5.2 percent. Rates for other states were 3.9 percent in New Hampshire, 3.8 percent in Vermont, 4.8 percent in Massachusetts, 6.3 percent in Rhode Island, and 6.4 percent in Connecticut.

The number of unemployed in Maine declined 7,800 over the year to 32,100.

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was below the 5.6 percent statewide average in Maine’s three metro areas: Portland-South Portland (4.4 percent); Lewiston-Auburn (5.3 percent); and Bangor (5.2 percent).


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