The state’s unemployment rate continued an alarming upward trend last month; shadowing nation-wide increases in jobless rates that are tied to an ongoing recession.
On Dec. 19 the Maine Department of Labor on Friday announced the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate reached 6.3 percent in November, up from 5.7 percent in October and 4.9 percent in Nov. 2007.
Neighboring states fared better. New Hampshire reported its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November at 4.3 percent; Massachusetts’ was 5.9 percent. “Seasonally adjusted” refers to a formula that accounts for normal hiring ramp-ups like retail hiring during the holidays and dips in winter employment, for example.
Maine lost about 2400 wage and salary jobs in October and November and more than 7000 in the past year. Job losses registered in retail trade, manufacturing, transportation, utilities, construction, financial activities, leisure and hospitality services, government, manufacturing and information technology. The number of jobs in some categories increased, including those in educational and health services and professional and business services.
The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7 percent for November, up from 6.5 percent in October and 4.9 percent in Nov. 2007.
Along with the unemployment numbers, Dept. of Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman announced two new initiatives aimed at helping people who are out of jobs.
On Dec. 18 the department launched a new Web-based service called Maine’s Job Bank, which can be accessed around the clock at the Web site www.mainecareercenter.com.
The service is integrated with the state’s unemployment system, meaning displaced workers and employers can register to seek each other out. It allows workers to post resumés and sign up for e-mail alerts and employers to peruse applications and resumés at no cost. Job seeker information is kept confidential until an individual is ready to share information, and all jobs posted on Maine’s Job Bank are uploaded to Job Central, a national job search site.
In a separate initiative, the Dept. of Labor has hired 18 new employees, seven of whom were scheduled to begin work Monday. This hiring doubles the number of people handling unemployment claims, which Fortman said is needed because of the rising unemployment rate.
A hiring freeze across state government means every new employee is personally approved by Gov. John Baldacci, who gave his blessing to these additions.
“We’re bringing people on to help meet the increasing needs of Maine workers touched by this national recession,” said Baldacci in a press release. “If doubling the number of workers isn’t enough, we’ll do more.”
To reduce delays in receiving benefits, Fortman encouraged workers to file initial or weekly claims at the Web site www.file4ui.com or by calling in weekly claims through an automated telephone system, toll free at 1-800-593-7660.
(Statehouse News Service)