Maine’s Economy

Progress for farmworkers — but full justice still denied

Last week, Maine took a historic step forward by extending the state’s minimum wage to include farmworkers. For too long, the people who grow and harvest the […]

Arthur Phillips

Posted June 19, 2025

Tags Economic Security, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage

Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget

Advocates urge lawmakers to offer pay raises to direct care workers

“Keeping wages and benefits flat will only exacerbate the shortage, strain our hospitals and long-term care facilities, and further endanger public health,” he said during a press […]

Maine Public

Posted June 5, 2025

Tags Budget, Direct Care Work, Job Quality, Wages

Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget

Care workers gather at Maine State House to join call for wage increases

The Maine Center for Economic Policy, a progressive think tank, has estimated that 23,500 hours per week of home care for older adults went unserved in 2024 […]

Portland Press Herald

Posted June 5, 2025

Tags Budget, Direct Care Work, Job Quality

Jobs and Income

Portland could raise minimum wage to $20 an hour

A study from the Maine Center for Economic Policy indicates that while the increase would benefit workers across all industries, those in low-wage sectors would experience the […]

Fox 23

Posted May 20, 2025

Tags Incomes, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage

Jobs and Income

Nearly every Maine House and Senate Republican voted to repeal child labor protections

Economic policy analyst Arthur Phillips with the Maine Center for Economic Policy also criticized the bill, highlighting the heightened injury risk and long-term impact for young workers. “Younger workers […]

Beacon

Posted May 19, 2025

Tags Children, Job Quality, Jobs

Health Care, Jobs and Income

Maine’s paid family leave law is under attack — and must be defended

Recently, Maine’s legislative Labor Committee heard testimony on more than a dozen bills on Maine’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program, most of which would […]

James Myall

Posted May 15, 2025

Tags Economic Security, Job Quality, Jobs, Paid Family and Medical Leave

Jobs and Income

Advocates urge state to shore up Maine’s child care system

Arthur Phillips, an analyst for the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said about 18,000 Maine people are not in the workforce because they can’t afford child care. […]

Portland Press Herald

Posted May 12, 2025

Tags Child Care, Economy, Job Quality, Jobs, Revenue

Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget

Lawmakers hear proposals to better support families and child care providers

According to the Maine Center for Economic Policy, an estimated 18,000 people in Maine are currently out of the labor force due to a lack of child care. […]

Maine Morning Star

Posted April 4, 2025

Tags Budget, Child Care, Job Quality, Jobs

Jobs and Income

Proposals to bolster farmworkers’ hour and wage rights back before Legislature

The Maine AFL-CIO was generally in favor of the proposals, but described LD 588 as a compromise. All three of the bills were also supported by the […]

Maine Morning Star

Posted April 2, 2025

Tags Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs, Racial Equity

Jobs and Income

LD 599: Expanding overtime protections for 21,000 salaried workers in Maine

At a glance: LD 599 would align Maine’s salary threshold for overtime pay with the federal standard of $58,656, ensuring an additional 21,000 salaried workers are eligible […]

James Myall

Posted March 28, 2025

Tags Incomes, Job Quality, Overtime, Wages

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Progress for farmworkers — but full justice still denied

Advocates urge lawmakers to offer pay raises to direct care workers

Care workers gather at Maine State House to join call for wage increases

Portland could raise minimum wage to $20 an hour

Nearly every Maine House and Senate Republican voted to repeal child labor protections

Maine’s paid family leave law is under attack — and must be defended

Advocates urge state to shore up Maine’s child care system

Lawmakers hear proposals to better support families and child care providers

Proposals to bolster farmworkers’ hour and wage rights back before Legislature

LD 599: Expanding overtime protections for 21,000 salaried workers in Maine