What is the unemployment rate in right now?

Updated Apr. 30, 2026Refreshed monthly
Unemployment in Penobscot County, ME was at 3.9% in February 2026. That's a -0.3 percentage point decrease from a year before. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but not currently employed. It's a common way to measure the health of the job market and economy.
In February 2026,

3.9%

of the labor force was unemployed in Penobscot County, ME
February 2026 had a

-0.3

percentage point change from February 2025
County-level unemployment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not account for fluctuations due to seasonal employment patterns, such as tourism or agriculture. That means the data may show large changes month to month. It is important to view this local data with a long-term lens.

The unemployment rate in Penobscot County, ME was lower in February 2026 compared with February 2025.

Not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, January 2007 to February 2026

Ask the data
Beta

We use AI to summarize the data, charts, and analysis we have on USAFacts

Unemployment rates differ between areas within states due to various factors. Counties with many job opportunities and different industries often have lower unemployment rates. In rural areas, or places where industries are shrinking, the rate can be higher. Seasonal work in industries like tourism or farming can lead to unemployment rising or falling. Population changes and local policies also play a role in how many people are employed.

How does unemployment in Penobscot County, ME compare to other counties?

The latest county-level data from February 2026 shows that Penobscot County, ME's unemployment rate was ranked 10th out of 16 counties in Maine, from highest to lowest.

Unemployment rates in Maine counties ranged from 2.7% to 6.8% in February 2026.

Not seasonally adjusted

Unemployment rate, by county in Maine (February 2026)

Unemployment rate, by county in Maine (February 2026)
1.

Washington County, ME

6.8%
2.

Piscataquis County, ME

6.3%
3.

Hancock County, ME

5.5%
4.

Somerset County, ME

5.5%
5.

Aroostook County, ME

5.4%
6.

Waldo County, ME

5%
7.

Knox County, ME

4.2%
8.

Oxford County, ME

4.1%
9.

Lincoln County, ME

4%
10.

Franklin County, ME

3.9%

Keep exploring

Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.