Jobs and Income

Maine’s Worker shortage has deep roots

As the COVID-19 pandemic recedes in Maine, business-owners have begun to raise a new economic concern as they report difficulty hiring workers to fill vacancies. These concerns […]

James Myall

Posted June 10, 2021

Tags Coronavirus, Employment, Job Quality, Jobs, Unemployment

Jobs and Income

Lawmakers must reject plan to give corporations free pass to put workers and customer at risk

The Legislature today is considering a bill — LD 1403, “An Act to Protect Maine Businesses, Nonprofits, Educational Institutions and Municipalities during the COVID-19 Pandemic” — that […]

James Myall

Posted May 13, 2021

Tags Coronavirus, Health Care, Jobs

Jobs and Income

Committee advances Rep. Cuddy bill to protect service employees from wage theft

The threshold for being considered a tipped employee has not been significantly increased in over 50 years. While the law currently requires employers to supplement the base […]

Penobscot Bay Pilot

Posted May 10, 2021

Tags Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Wages

Jobs and Income

Bill to update definition of “tipped worker” would prevent low-wage trap for service workers

Public laws regarding tipped workers are designed to ensure that workers who receive a substantial portion of their income through tips are given the same worker protections […]

James Myall

Posted May 4, 2021

Tags Job Quality, Jobs, Minimum Wage, Wages

Jobs and Income

Anti-retaliation law would guarantee real rights for Maine workers

State labor laws are critical to ensuring basic rights and dignity at the workplace. From the minimum wage to paid time off, accommodations for working mothers to laws mandating breaks […]

James Myall

Posted April 23, 2021

Tags Job Quality, Jobs, Paid Sick Days

Taxes and Budget

MECEP statement on 'Back-to-Basics' budget

AUGUSTA, MAINE — Garrett Martin, executive director at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, released the following statement about the ‘Back-to-Basics’ budget plan under consideration in the Maine […]

Posted March 25, 2021

Tags Budget, Coronavirus, Jobs

Jobs and Income

Pine Tree Development Zones promised jobs but didn’t deliver. It’s time to end them.

In 2003, the Maine Legislature created Pine Tree Development Zones, a tax expenditure program designed to spur job creation in economically distressed areas of the state. The […]

Sarah Austin

Posted March 24, 2021

Tags Jobs, Tax Breaks, Taxes

Jobs and Income

At-will employment is cover for discrimination. Maine should abolish it to protect workers from unfair firing

No worker should be fired from their job without a good reason. That’s why we have anti-discrimination laws, which protect Mainers from being fired on the basis […]

James Myall

Posted March 24, 2021

Tags Employment, Inequality, Job Quality, Jobs

Jobs and Income

Recognizing foreign credentials would help New Mainers and our state prosper

Maine’s economy is at its best when Mainers of all backgrounds can make full use of their experience, skills, and education. But New Mainers who arrive in […]

James Myall

Posted March 23, 2021

Tags Economy, Employment, Immigration, Inequality, Jobs, Racial Equity

Jobs and Income

Lawmakers discuss bill to restore overtime protection

James Myall, a policy analyst for the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said most people think of a typical work week as being 40 hours. He said […]

Fox Bangor

Posted March 22, 2021

Tags Job Quality, Jobs, Overtime, Wages

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Maine’s Worker shortage has deep roots

Lawmakers must reject plan to give corporations free pass to put workers and customer at risk

Committee advances Rep. Cuddy bill to protect service employees from wage theft

Bill to update definition of “tipped worker” would prevent low-wage trap for service workers

Anti-retaliation law would guarantee real rights for Maine workers

MECEP statement on 'Back-to-Basics' budget

Pine Tree Development Zones promised jobs but didn’t deliver. It’s time to end them.

At-will employment is cover for discrimination. Maine should abolish it to protect workers from unfair firing

Recognizing foreign credentials would help New Mainers and our state prosper

Lawmakers discuss bill to restore overtime protection