Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 D E C E M B E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 8 F O C U S H R / R EC R U I T M E N T aine is seeing historically low unemployment rates, which have had an effect on businesses throughout the state. The labor shortage affects professions as diverse as nurses and construction workers, toll takers and convenience store workers. Yet even in the depths of the recession, Maine's unemployment rate was below that of the country. S TA R T I N G O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » M TOP 12 HIGH-WAGE, IN-DEMAND JOBS / ANNUAL OPENINGS OCTOBER UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR MAINE / U.S. 1. General and operations managers: 1,021 2. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers: 984 3. Registered nurses: 944 4. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers: 867 5. Bookkeeping, accounting, auditing clerks: 787 6. Carpenters: 625 7. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers: 494 8. Maintenance and repair workers, general: 482 9. Accountants and auditors: 440 10. Sales reps, wholesale/retail, excluding tech and science: 440 11. Insurance sales agents: 405 12. Elementary school teachers, except special ed: 378 N O T E : All have education requirements of some kind S O U R C E : Maine Department of Labor S O U R C E : Maine Department of Labor Maine's unemployment rate spiked after the recession, peaking in 2009. In recent months, it has hit historic lows. Here are the latest figures for October, versus the same month in past 12 years. 2006 Maine U.S. 2010 2013 2015 2008 2012 2018 2007 2011 2016 2017 2009 2014 4.7% 4.4% 4.9% 4.7% 6.2% 6.5% 8.2% 10.0% 8.1% 9.4% 7.7% 8.8% 7.3% 7.8% 6.3% 7.2% 5.3% 5.7% 4.0% 5.0% 3.7% 4.9% 3.2% 4.1% 3.4% 3.7%

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