State Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman announced the preliminary unemployment rate for Maine was 8.0 percent in June, unchanged from May and down slightly from 8.2 percent a year ago. The number of unemployed totaled 55,600, down 2,300 from a year ago. The national unemployment rate was 9.5 percent, down slightly from 9.7 a month ago and unchanged from a year ago.

There were 591,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in June, up 700 over the month. Maine has gained jobs five of the last six months. “The recovery continues, though more slowly than we would like,” Fortman said. Other indicators provide conflicting signals about the direction and strength of the recovery. “On the positive side, average hours worked continues to rise, which often is a precursor to job growth. However, the number of advertised job postings declined in May and June after increasing nine consecutive months. Nationally, private sector job growth has slowed and retail sales declined the last two months.”

June seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates in other New England states were 5.9 percent in New Hampshire, 6.0 percent in Vermont, 9.0 percent in Massachusetts, 12.0 percent in Rhode Island, and 8.8 percent in Connecticut. The New England average was 8.6 percent.

The not seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate was 7.7 percent in June, down from 8.1 percent a year ago. Not seasonally-adjusted rates ranged from 6.4 percent in Cumberland and Lincoln Counties to 10.7 percent in Piscataquis County. Over the year rates decreased in all counties except Waldo and Hancock. The largest declines were in western and eastern rim regions, particularly Washington, Piscataquis, and Franklin Counties.

Among metropolitan areas, unemployment rates were lower than the statewide average in Portland-South Portland-Biddeford (6.4 percent) and Bangor (7.5 percent). Lewiston-Auburn remained above the state rate (8.2 percent).

Detailed labor force and unemployment data for the state, counties, and 31 labor market areas, as well as nonfarm jobs data for the state and the three metropolitan areas is available at www.maine.gov/labor/lmis/data.html.

July data is scheduled for release August 20.