AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August came in at 8.6 percent, up slightly from 8.5 percent in July.
Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said Friday that 60,200 people were unemployed during the month. That’s 21,800 people more than a year earlier, when unemployment stood at 5.4 percent.
Fortman said the largest job losses in August were in manufacturing, government and retail trade.< Lincoln County had the lowest unemployment rate, at 6.1 percent. The highest rate, 11.4 percent, was in Piscataquis County. Maine’s jobless rate in August was lower than the national rate of 9.5 percent.