Officials say the Maine state employee pay gap has closed. Workers say they’re still struggling

Starting in July, about half of the workforce is eligible to advance to a new higher “step” on the state’s classification pay scale, potentially qualifying them for another 4% raise. Figueroa said the state also created a $15 minimum starting wage for all employees and expanded paid parental leave from four to six weeks.

But the Maine Center for Economic Policy, a progressive advocacy group, said private sector wage increases have outpaced those raises for state workers over the last four years. The group pointed to its recent analysis, which questioned whether the pay gap had widened.

Click here to read the full story, first published February 8, 2024 in Maine Public.