Maine Center for Economic Policy | Maine Budget Blog
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The Maine Center for Economic Policy is a nonpartisan policy research organization that provides citizens, policymakers, advocates, and media with credible and rigorous economic analysis that advances economic justice and prosperity for all Maine people.
Maine Center for Economic Policy | Maine Budget Blog
2M ago
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FULL REPORT
Executive Summary
A great need exists in Maine for the kind of financial support guaranteed income could provide: reliable and periodic payments throughout the year, helping to smooth over recipients’ income volatility and better budget their finances.
Evidence shows guaranteed income pilots benefit financial, mental, and physical health and advance racial and gender equity. Evidence does not show guaranteed income provides a disincentive to work.
Maine has already implemented programs like guaranteed income — the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, an ..read more
Maine Center for Economic Policy | Maine Budget Blog
4M ago
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Full Report
Summary
The major challenge facing Maine’s economy is the state’s plateauing workforce.
In 2003, approximately 3 percent of jobs in Maine were unfilled — today the share has almost doubled to more than 6 percent. Over the past 20 years, the number of Mainers in the workforce has increased by just 6 percent, way below the national workforce growth of 20 percent. Maine Department of Labor projects the workforce will actually shrink by almost 78,000 people over the next decade.
Without increasing the size of the workforce, it is very difficult to maintain a health ..read more
Maine Center for Economic Policy | Maine Budget Blog
7M ago
At a glance:
Labor unions play an essential role in delivering better wages, benefits, and working conditions not just for their members, but for all workers
Women and people of color see even more pronounced gains in wages, retirement security, and health care coverage because of being union members
Labor unions contribute to increased civic and community engagement
Maine and the nation are seeing a resurgence in worker organizing across a wide range of sectors
Public support of unions is at a 60 year high despite the share of workers who belong to a union continuing to lag
Recent policy cha ..read more
Maine Center for Economic Policy | Maine Budget Blog
7M ago
Kate shared her story as part of MECEP’s State of Working Maine 2022 report. Click here to view the full report, as well as other workers’ stories.
Kate Hunter worked in food service in breweries, pubs, and restaurants for 12 years, where it was her primary source of income. She lost her job in a Portland restaurant when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and did not return when service resumed. Kate relocated to the Skowhegan area and now works for a life-long learning platform that is a program of the Maine State Library system.
“Waiting tables can be totally unpredictable. I could spend six h ..read more
Maine Center for Economic Policy | Maine Budget Blog
7M ago
Michelle and “Lynn” shared their stories as part of MECEP’s State of Working Maine 2022 report. Click here to view the full report, as well as other workers’ stories.
Michelle Belanger is the program coordinator at Youth and Family Outreach in Portland. The nationally accredited child care center’s 15 employees serve 58 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. Michelle has worked in many different capacities during her 25 years in early childhood education, including as a Pre-K and toddler teacher. She has worked at Youth and Family Outreach for 14 years.
“Since the pandemic started, I’m see ..read more
Maine Center for Economic Policy | Maine Budget Blog
10M ago
At a glance
Maine has more jobs now than before the pandemic
Labor force participation has mostly rebounded to pre-pandemic levels but is not adequate to keep pace with job growth and shifts in the labor force
Tens of thousands of workers remain out of the labor force for reasons that public policies can address — particularly those focused on strengthening Maine’s care economy and the capacity of families to afford care and meet basic needs
Now is the time to make investments that address structural challenges for Maine’s workers and employers, and foster greater long-term economic vitality ..read more
Maine Center for Economic Policy | Maine Budget Blog
11M ago
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FULL REPORT
SUMMARY
Maine forgoes billions of dollars in revenue each year by giving out tax breaks. These tax giveaways are costly and sometimes poorly targeted to achieve intended outcomes. When Maine dedicates resources to unproven tax breaks, we lose funding that could be better spent to strengthen Maine’s workforce and grow our economy. Maine must raise its standards for what we expect of these programs and how they are administered, what information is available about them, and whether there is any evidence that they work. Legislators should not continue to e ..read more
Maine Center for Economic Policy | Maine Budget Blog
1y ago
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full report
Summary
Maine’s direct care workforce is in a fragile state. Low reimbursement rates for direct care work result in low pay, poor job quality, and worsening labor shortages for care providers. The consequences of undervaluing the services direct care workers provide that allow aging people, people with behavior health challenges, and people with disabilities to live with dignity are far-reaching.
Many of us or those whom we love will require the kind of support and assistance that direct care workers provide at some point in our lives. Access to stable ..read more
Maine Center for Economic Policy | Maine Budget Blog
1y ago
2023 State
of the Districts
Dive into the data to discover the economic trends in Maine’s legislative districts, and how they compare with other regions in Maine. Zoom in on the map to find your neighborhood and click to see the trends in your House or Senate district. You can also scroll down the page to find downloadable district-level fact sheets.
(Please note that given the amount of data, this tool may take a moment to load).
Download District-Level Factsheets
State Senate Districts
State House Districts
Counties
State Senate Districts
District 1
District 2
District 3
D ..read more
Maine Center for Economic Policy | Maine Budget Blog
1y ago
Governor Mills’ budget proposal lays the foundation for Maine people and communities. State lawmakers can strengthen Maine’s economy even more — and make sure no one gets left behind.
Click here to share our full explainer post on Facebook.
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