Maine approached the end of 2008 with a week in which initial jobless claims dropped. The state was one of eight states reporting the greatest reductions in unadjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance in the week ending December 20, according to the federal Department of Labor.

The reasons, according to the state, were fewer layoffs in the construction, trade, service, and manufacturing industries.

Other states posting reductions in claims were Massachusetts, Georgia, New Jersey, Tennessee, Illinois, Connecticut and South Carolina.

Eighteen states reported large increases in first-time claims, lead by California, Kentucky, Michigan and Missouri.