The forecast released today by the New England Economic Partnership indicates that Maine will struggle to reach pre-recession levels before the end of 2016.

BOSTON (AP) _ A new report predicts continued sluggish economic growth in New England and cautions that most states in the region will not return to pre-recession employment levels until 2015.

The four-year forecast released today by the New England Economic Partnership says Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont will have the strongest economies in the six-state region, while Rhode Island will continue to experience the highest unemployment.

The economists said Maine and Connecticut will also struggle to reach pre-recession jobs levels before the end of 2016.

The forecast assumes some sort of compromise in the ongoing "fiscal cliff'' negotiations, but warns that New England - because of its higher than average per capita income - could be hit harder than the nation as a whole if there is no deal and taxes go up.