|
|
 |
| The
Portland MSA constitutes the strongest economic
region in the State of Maine. The concentration
of population and accessibility to other markets
in New England have made this area a focal
point for retail, commercial and industrial
development. |
|
| |
Labor
Force
The Portland MSA contains the largest labor
force in Maine, comprising 22% of the total
number of workers in the state. Over the
past five years, this labor force has grown
steadily at an average of 3% annually, with
unemployment rates well below the state average. |
| |
| Labor
Force, Employment and Unemployment
for Feb 2008 |
| Area |
Labor
Force
|
Residents
Employed
|
Number
Unemployed
|
%
Unemployment
|
| Portland
- MSA |
202,024
|
193,514
|
8,510
|
4.2%
|
| State of
Maine |
700,200
|
659,200
|
41,100
|
5.9%
|
| Source:
Maine Dept. or Labor |
|
| |
| Labor
Force for the Portland MSA |
| 1998
- 2005 |
|
|
|
|
Wage
and Salary Employment
The Portland MSA regional economy is a central
location for wage and salary employment in
Maine such that the total number of people
employed exceeds the actual residential labor
force (see table below). These figures illustrate
that people living in other labor markets
are choosing the Portland MSA as their place
of work. The Portland economic region is primarily
service oriented as opposed to goods producing.
In 2008, 87% of the Portland MSA was involved
in service producing activities such as retail
trade, hotels and insurance. The area accounts
for 33% of the state's total service industry
and it has become a shopping center for regional
and out-of-state residents. |
| |
| Nonfarm
Wage and Salary Employment for January 2008 |
| Item |
Portland
MSA
|
Statewide
|
| Goods
Producing |
23,500
|
88,000
|
| Construction
and Mining |
9,820
|
27,600
|
| Manufacturing |
14,300
|
57,600
|
| Service
Producing |
167,500
|
509,100
|
| Trans.,
Utilities |
5,600
|
17,300
|
| Finance,
Insurance, Real Estate |
12,500
|
25,800
|
| Total |
191,000
|
597,100
|
| Source:
Maine Dept. of Labor |
|
|
|
 |
While
the residential labor force in the Portland
MSA has remained fairly consistent, nonfarm
wage and salary employment levels have been
on the rise since the beginning of 1994, reflecting
a 3% change after being relatively stable
in the early 90's. This increase indicates
that more people living outside the Portland
area are commuting to work within the Portland
MSA. |
| |
| Nonfarm
Wage and Salary Employment-Annual
Average for 2003-2007 |
| |
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006 |
2007
|
%
Change 2007
|
| Portland
- MSA |
159,700
|
170,634
|
|
|
198,300 |
25%*
|
| Source:
Maine Dept. of Labor |
*Biddeford-Saco added to MSA in 2007 |
|
|
Wage
Levels
Wages in the Portland region are among the
highest in the state and are highly competitive
with wages paid in comparable metropolitan
areas in the northeast. Because it is a service
dominated economic region, this industrial
division produces the highest share of annual
wages. |
| |
Covered Employment and Wages by Major Industry
Division, 2000
Cumberland County
|
Industrial Division |
Employers at Year-End |
Average Employment |
Total Wages |
|
Total |
Female |
Annual |
Average Weekly
|
|
Total |
10,818 |
163,467 |
75,974 |
$4,992,825,945 |
$587 |
|
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
|
247 |
1,420 |
392 |
33,706,674 |
456 |
|
Mining and Construction |
1,193 |
8,011 |
680 |
268,316,632 |
644 |
|
Manufacturing |
492 |
15,843 |
5,346 |
630,698,901 |
766 |
|
Transportation and Public Utilities
|
426 |
7,481 |
2047 |
280,928,423 |
722 |
|
Wholesale Trade |
851 |
9,909 |
2,667 |
385,259,948 |
748 |
|
Retail Trade |
2103 |
37,239 |
20,563 |
708,449,316 |
316 |
|
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
|
1009 |
13,967 |
8,519 |
628,056,116 |
865 |
|
Services |
4226 |
52,908 |
26,949 |
1,575,955,987 |
573 |
|
State Government |
36 |
4,155 |
2,535 |
124,769,505 |
577 |
|
Local Government |
235 |
12,537 |
6,275 |
356,678,911 |
549 |
|
|
Source:
Maine Department of Labor, ME Employment
Statistical Handbook 2000
|
|
|
Leading
Employers
A glance at the top ten businesses in the
Greater Portland Area illustrates the strength
and diversity of its economy. While the region
is characterized by service oriented activities,
there still exists a well-balanced economic
base which includes several large manufacturing
companies. |
| |
Largest Employers In the Greater Portland
Region, 2004
|
Name |
Activity |
No. of Employees |
|
Maine Medical Center |
Hospital |
5,000-5,500 |
|
L.L. Bean, Inc. |
Retail |
9,000 - 9,500 |
|
Unum Provident |
Insurance |
3,000 - 3,400 |
|
Delahaize |
Retail Food Dist. |
7,700 - 7,500 |
|
TD Bank North Group |
Banking |
2,300 - 2,600 |
|
Verizon |
Communications |
1,100 - 1,200 |
|
SAPPI International |
Paper |
1,400 - 1,600 |
|
Fairchild Semiconductor |
Technology |
1,200 - 1,400 |
|
Anthem Blue Cross |
Insurance |
1,100 - 1,200 |
|
Mercy Hospital |
Health Care |
1,400 - 1,600 |
|
| Source:
Maine and Compay |
|
|
|
|
|
