Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy The affordability ‘crisis’ is about inequality and insecurity People are struggling to get by. Their ability to afford groceries, rent, and heating oil feels tenuous. Short-term economic data tells a confusing story. For many, wages have […] Portland Press Herald Posted January 30, 2026 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Tax Fairness, Wages
Jobs and Income, Taxes and Budget Facing critical shortage, bipartisan legislation would hike wages for direct care workers One in five direct care workers receive federal food assistance, and about a third of home health aides suffer from food insecurity, said James Myall, an economic […] Maine Morning Star Posted January 21, 2026 Tags Budget, Direct Care Work, Job Quality, Wages
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
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, 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
Maine’s Economy Maine restaurant owners blame staffing woes on housing shortage “Housing was one of the items where even if the average cost of living was being covered by wages, housing wasn’t,” said James Myall, an economic policy […] The Maine Monitor Posted November 16, 2025 Tags Housing, Inflation, Wages
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
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy Portland voters widely approve measure that will raise minimum wage to $19 A preelection analysis of the proposal by the Maine Center for Economic Policy estimated that more than 15,000 workers — or about 1 in 5 people employed […] Portland Press Herald Posted November 4, 2025 Tags Economy, Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Wages
