What is the unemployment rate in the right now?

Refreshed monthly
Unemployment in the Portland area was at 2.6% in April 2026. That's a -0.1 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 helps indicate the overall condition of the Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area job market.
In April 2026,

2.6%

of the labor force was unemployed in Portland, ME area
April 2026 had a

-0.1

percentage point change from April 2025
Metro area-level unemployment data 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’s important to view this local data with a long-term lens.

The unemployment rate in Portland, ME area was lower in April 2026 (YTD) compared with January 2019.

Unemployment rate by month, not seasonally adjusted, 2019-2026 (YTD)

Unemployment rates differ between urban areas due to various factors. The types of industries present in an area may affect unemployment rates. Seasonal work in industries like tourism can cause unemployment to go up and down. Population changes and local policies also play a role in how many people are employed.

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How does unemployment in the Portland, ME area compare to other metros?

Unemployment rates are an indicator of economic health, and understanding how the Portland, ME area fares in comparison to other metropolitan areas can provide insights. The current unemployment rate in the Portland, ME area is a metric to consider. By comparing this rate with those of other metropolitan areas, we can better understand the economic landscape and identify trends or anomalies. Factors such as industry presence, economic policies, and demographic characteristics can all influence unemployment rates. Monitoring these rates is necessary for economic planning and policy-making. Data for this analysis is sourced from reliable and nonpartisan government databases.
Among 108 metro areas with more than 250,000 people in the labor force, the Portland, ME area had the 5th lowest unemployment rate in April 2026.
Other areas with similar unemployment rates to the Portland, ME area's 2.6% unemployment rate were the Indianapolis, IN area (2.6%) and the Grand Island, NE area (2.6%).

In April 2026, the Portland, ME area had the 5th lowest unemployment rate among metro areas with more than 250,000 people in the labor force.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted (Circle size corresponds to the size of the labor force)

Unemployment rate, by metro area (April 2026)

Unemployment rate, by metro area (April 2026)
1.

El Centro, CA area

16.5%
2.

Yuma, AZ area

13.9%
3.

Visalia, CA area

10.2%
4.

Merced, CA area

9.6%
5.

Hanford, CA area

8.9%
6.

Bakersfield, CA area

8.7%
7.

Guayama, PR area

8.6%
8.

Eagle Pass, TX area

8.5%
9.

Fresno, CA area

8.1%
10.

Wildwood, FL area

7.9%

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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.