From December 2024 to March 2025, private-sector businesses in Maine saw a net employment gain of 6,046 jobs, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Gross job gains from opening and expanding establishments totaled 40,436, while gross job losses from closing and contracting establishments reached 34,390.
Acting Regional Commissioner Michael G. Phinney stated, “The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment gain of 6,046 jobs in the private sector during first quarter of 2025.” In contrast, the previous quarter saw gross job losses exceed gains by 923.
Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics measure these changes by tracking employment at private-sector businesses from one quarter to the next. The BED data are produced through a federal-state cooperative program called the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), using records compiled by BLS.
In Maine’s first quarter of 2025, gross job gains represented 7.4 percent of private-sector employment, higher than the national figure of 5.6 percent. Expanding establishments contributed 29,030 jobs—a slight decrease compared to the previous quarter—while opening establishments added 11,406 jobs, an increase over last quarter.
Gross job losses made up 6.3 percent of Maine’s private-sector employment; nationally this figure was 5.4 percent. Contracting establishments in Maine lost 27,708 jobs in this period—a decrease from the prior quarter—and closing establishments accounted for another loss of 6,682 jobs.
Among industry sectors in Maine during this period, retail trade experienced the largest net gain with an increase of 1,823 jobs. Construction had a net gain of 1,059 jobs and education and health services added a net total of 758 jobs. However, professional and business services reported a net loss of 1,172 jobs.
BED data provide insight into gross job gains and losses across industries for all states as well as U.S. territories. Additional information is available on the Business Employment Dynamics Home page.
The next release covering second quarter data is scheduled for February 26, 2026.
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