Portland, Maine Job Outlook

Portland has an unemployment rate that's noticeably lower than the national rate. However, the mean annual wage is slightly under the national average, likely due to Portland's high concentration of low-wage service jobs.

Maine Medical Center is the largest hospital in the state and skilled labor in the health care industry is in high demand. Meanwhile, manufacturing and information technology hiring has been strong. The Fortune 500 company Unum Group has its life insurance subsidiary based in Portland, and L.L. Bean in nearby Freeport has championed outdoor apparel since 1912.

Portland is especially attractive to telecommuters. Those looking for a better quality of life while maintaining their out-of-state wages can best reap those benefits.