Maine’s Economy

Tracking the economic impact of COVID-19 in Maine

MECEP is monitoring several short-term indicators to track the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Maine’s economy. Sources for each indicator can be seen in the descriptions below. Indicator 1: COVID-19 cases in Maine […]

James Myall

Posted July 9, 2020

Tags Coronavirus, Economic Security, Economy, Food Insecurity, Health Care, Housing, Medicaid, Unemployment

Health Care

Black Mainers are 8 times more likely than white Mainers to be hospitalized for COVID-19

New data from the Maine Center for Disease Control shows that Black Mainers are more than eight times as likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 as white […]

James Myall

Posted June 30, 2020

Tags Coronavirus, Racial Equity

Maine’s Economy

While signs of improvement appear, Maine unemployment remains at unprecedented levels

While the latest data on Maine unemployment claims show some reason for hope, Maine’s unemployment levels remain at unprecedented levels three months after the coronavirus pandemic sent […]

James Myall

Posted June 12, 2020

Tags Coronavirus, Unemployment

Health Care

Black Mainers now 20 times more likely than whites to experience COVID-19 — and the disparity is growing

Black and African American Mainers are now roughly 20 times more likely than whites to have contracted COVID-19, according to data released by the Maine CDC. One […]

James Myall

Posted June 5, 2020

Tags Coronavirus

Health Care, Maine’s Economy

Job losses bring additional crisis for laid-off workers: loss of health coverage

Between 72,000 and 131,000 Mainers could lose their employer-sponsored health insurance as a result of widespread layoffs spurred by the coronavirus pandemic, with as many as 31,000 […]

James Myall

Posted May 29, 2020

Tags Coronavirus, Unemployment

Maine’s Economy

Pandemic has erased one in six Maine jobs since February

Maine lost nearly 106,000 jobs1 in the two months leading up to April 12 as Maine businesses laid off workers across the state because of the ongoing public […]

James Myall

Posted May 22, 2020

Tags Coronavirus, Unemployment

Maine’s Economy

Last week's expanded eligibility spurs largest UI claims spike since pandemic began

Roughly 16,100 Mainers filed new unemployment claims in the week ending May 2, according to the Maine Department of Labor, representing the largest week-over-week increase in since […]

James Myall

Posted May 7, 2020

Tags Coronavirus, Unemployment

Maine’s Economy

Maine’s racial disparities laid bare by COVID-19

COVID-19 does not discriminate. Anyone exposed to the coronavirus can get sick, regardless of their race, ZIP code, or family income. Nevertheless, new data from the Maine […]

James Myall

Posted May 6, 2020

Tags Coronavirus

Maine’s Economy

Small businesses need targeted relief that Payroll Protection Program does not yet provide

On Thursday, Congress enacted a new round of funding for the Payroll Protection Program, or PPP, which provides loans to help businesses cover payroll and other expenses […]

James Myall

Posted April 24, 2020

Tags Coronavirus, Federal

Jobs and Income

Mainers eligible for $1.3 billion in stimulus payments, but many risk losing out

The CARES Act — a $2.2 trillion relief package enacted by Congress to address the fallout from coronavirus — includes a provision for one-time payments to most […]

James Myall

Posted April 15, 2020

Tags Coronavirus, Federal

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Tracking the economic impact of COVID-19 in Maine

Black Mainers are 8 times more likely than white Mainers to be hospitalized for COVID-19

While signs of improvement appear, Maine unemployment remains at unprecedented levels

Black Mainers now 20 times more likely than whites to experience COVID-19 — and the disparity is growing

Job losses bring additional crisis for laid-off workers: loss of health coverage

Pandemic has erased one in six Maine jobs since February

Last week's expanded eligibility spurs largest UI claims spike since pandemic began

Maine’s racial disparities laid bare by COVID-19

Small businesses need targeted relief that Payroll Protection Program does not yet provide

Mainers eligible for $1.3 billion in stimulus payments, but many risk losing out