HARTFORD, Conn. — Federal labor economists say Maine’s unemployment rate in October stayed at September’s 5.8 percent.
Rhode Island was the only New England state to post a significant change in the unemployment rate in October, dropping to 7.4 percent from 7.6 percent in September.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday the region’s unemployment rate fell to 5.9 percent in October from 6 percent in September. Nationally, the jobless rate in October was 5.8 percent, down from 5.9 percent.
New Hampshire’s unemployment rate of 4.2 percent and Vermont’s 4.4 percent were significantly lower than the U.S. rate. The rate was down slightly in New Hampshire and unchanged in Vermont.
Rhode Island was among 12 states with unemployment rates “measurably higher” than the national average.
The rates of 6.4 percent in Connecticut, 5.8 percent in Maine and 6 percent in Massachusetts were unchanged from September.
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