Counties with the highest unemployment in Maine
While today's unemployment rates are significantly lower than the COVID-19 pandemic peak of 14.7% experienced in April 2020, the fear of job losses remains as workers stare down an uncertain economic future.
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Maine using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in February 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Experts are mixed in their views of a potential recession. The return of student loan payments, continually high gas prices, persistent inflation, and insurance price escalations are just a few of the factors that could limit consumer spending and potentially prompt another recession.
The last economic recession before the pandemic—the Great Recession of 2007-09—sent unemployment rates up to 10% as of October 2009, and a full recovery took years.
But as of March 2024, the national unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.8%—down slightly from the previous month. Regional and state employment varies widely depending on local economies. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates by state demonstrate a rather sizable spectrum, ranging from just 2% in North Dakota to 5.3% in California.
Read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Maine.
#16. Sagadahoc County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.6%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,112 people (501 unemployed)
#15. Cumberland County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 2.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 165,673 people (4,739 unemployed)
#14. Kennebec County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 63,071 people (2,107 unemployed)
#13. Androscoggin County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 54,189 people (2,015 unemployed)
#12. York County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.7%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 114,492 people (4,258 unemployed)
#11. Oxford County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 3.8%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 26,745 people (1,023 unemployed)
#10. Penobscot County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 75,687 people (3,126 unemployed)
#9. Lincoln County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,295 people (685 unemployed)
#8. Waldo County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,271 people (878 unemployed)
#7. Franklin County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,176 people (635 unemployed)
#6. Knox County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 19,657 people (877 unemployed)
#5. Aroostook County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: No change
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 28,614 people (1,521 unemployed)
#4. Somerset County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 22,200 people (1,238 unemployed)
#3. Hancock County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 27,268 people (1,649 unemployed)
#2. Washington County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,210 people (875 unemployed)
#1. Piscataquis County
- February unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,203 people (522 unemployed)
This story features data reporting by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
