Labor Force Participation

+0.2

In 2023, 81% of Maine adults ages 25-54 were in the labor force, nearly the same as in 2022.

No significant movement since the last available data

Benchmark: Maine’s labor force participation rate for prime working age adults will match or exceed the national average.

Overview Fig. A

Overview

As Maine’s population ages, the economic contribution of every individual becomes even more important. The labor force participation rate is the percentage of residents who are either working or looking for work. Estimates of Maine’s participation rate come from household surveys and are subject to revision, so these numbers should be interpreted with that in mind. In 2023, 81.2% of Maine’s “prime working age” adults (ages 25-54) were in this category. People of all ages are invaluable to Maine’s workforce; this age range is presented here to compare Maine workers with their peers in other states.

Maine adults at every age are about as likely to be in the labor force as people in other states. The chart below shows that Maine adults of all ages work at the same or higher rates as their peers nationwide. However, we have a higher share of residents aged 65 or older who work at lower rates. In 2022, 23% of Maine’s population was 65+ compared to just 17% of the U.S. population.

Potential measures to increase Maine’s labor force participation rate include higher wages; increased childcare access; reduced schedules for older workers; and outreach to new Mainers, people with disabilities, veterans, disengaged youth, and others.

Fig. A

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Labor Force Participation Rate

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics