Jobs and Income Maine's minimum wage hike sparks debate on economy and local business challenges As of New Year’s Day, Maine’s minimum wage increased to $15.10 per hour with the start of the new year. For employees in Portland, minimum wage for […] WGME Posted January 1, 2026 Tags Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Wages
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy New Maine laws going into effect in 2026 The 2026 wage bump is expected to increase pay rates for about 100,000 workers, including 42,000 who will directly earn more as a result of the change, […] Bangor Daily News Posted January 1, 2026 Tags Job Quality, Jobs, Wages
Jobs and Income Who gets a raise when Maine’s minimum wages go up Jan. 1? Roughly 7,200 tipped and non-tipped workers in Portland will see their wages increase as a direct result of the new 2026 minimum, according to James Myall, an […] Portland Press Herald Posted December 29, 2025 Tags Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Wages
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy Economic divide widening between Portland area and rest of Maine, report finds The economic divide between the greater Portland area and the rest of Maine has nearly doubled over the last 20 years, according to a new report from […] Maine Public Posted December 24, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Job Quality, Jobs
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy While Portland’s economy has grown since 2001, the rest of the state has stagnated, report finds Rural parts of western and northeast Maine have had almost no economic gains since 2001, according to a new report looking at economic trends in the state. […] News From The States Posted December 17, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Job Quality, Jobs
Health Care, Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy In the words of workers: Jesse Jesse shared his story as part of MECEP’s State of Working Maine 2025 report. Click here to read the full report. Jesse is a carpenter living in Hope with […] MECEP Posted December 17, 2025 Tags Child Care, Children, Economic Security, Economy, Health Care, Job Quality, Jobs, SNAP, Wages
Jobs and Income In the words of workers: Becky Becky shared her story as part of MECEP’s State of Working Maine 2025 report. Click here to read the full report. Becky is the co-founder of FlatWear, clothing designed […] MECEP Posted December 17, 2025 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Tariffs
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy State of Working Maine 2025: Strengthening Economic Opportunity in Rural Communities and Beyond Report PDF Summary PDF View Stories Webinar Economic opportunity in Maine is not an inevitable result of rural geography, but a consequence of state and federal policy […] James Myall Posted December 17, 2025 Tags Budget, Child Care, Coronavirus, Economic Security, Economy, Education, Federal, Food Insecurity, Health Care, Housing, Incomes, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Poverty, SNAP, Tariffs, Unemployment, Wages
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget Maine’s opportunity to lead on clean energy and good jobs At a glance The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentivized high-road jobs standards in renewable energy construction by linking federal tax credits to fair wages and registered apprenticeship […] Arthur Phillips Posted November 7, 2025 Tags Federal, Infrastructure, Job Quality, Jobs
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy Portland residents vote to increase minimum wage to $19 an hour by 2028 A Maine Center for Economic Policy analysis said 15,000 Portland workers, many in marginalized groups, will benefit from the ordinance and could see an average increase to […] Maine Public Posted November 5, 2025 Tags Economy, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Wages
