The Demographics of Employment, Unemployment and Labor Force Participation in Maine Educational attainment, age, gender, industry & occupation Glenn Mills Center for Workforce Research Maine Dept. of Labor

Educational Attainment Unemployment rates are highest and increased the most among those with the least education…

Educational Attainment …Unemployment rates only partially reflect differences in work or non-work by educational attainment. Those with the least education are the most likely to be out of the labor force. (Those who are not employed and not actively seeking work are not counted as unemployed they are not in the labor force.)

Age Unemployment rates are highest and increased the most among young people…

Age …Young people are less likely to be in the labor force.

Gender Unemployment rates are highest among men reflecting high displacement from manufacturing and construction industries where they comprise the majority of employment

Industry Employment is down significantly in sectors related to the production, transportation, and sale of goods and in state and local governments; employment has been relatively stable or up in more technical sectors.

Occupation Employment is up in managerial, professional & technical occupations that usually require post- secondary education and down in most occupations that primarily do not require post-secondary ed, especially production and administrative support jobs.

Occupation Unemployment compensation claimants differ by gender. Among men claims are highest in construction, production & transportation occupations; among women claims are highest in administrative support, food service & sales related occupations.

Outlook Most job displacement has been in occupations that do not require post-secondary education; most job growth is expected in occupations that do require post-secondary ed.

Outlook Most job growth is expected in occupations with average wages at the upper and lower ends of the earnings spectrum. Jobs that pay well generally require post-secondary education, often a specific type of education. Job seekers without post- secondary ed will find much competition for middle earning jobs. Some will have to settle for work in low-paying occupations.