Maine Continues to Lag Behind the Nation in Job Growth
LePage’s bottom of the pack ranking hits young families, rural Maine hardest
AUGUSTA—Legislative leaders issued a statement on the latest unemployment data released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“While Governor LePage touts mission accomplished with his race to the bottom economic policies, Mainers know that we have a ways to go. What does he say to the young families and rural Mainers who are working two and three jobs to put food on the table,” said Senate President Justin Alfond of Portland. “The Governor’s job creation record is still abominable—ranking as the third worst in the nation. Mainers know we have to do better.”
According to the federal data, job growth has been limited to the Bangor, Portland, and Lewiston-Auburn areas, and employment for the majority of adults (those ages 25 to 54) has not increased since the recession.
“Governor LePage isn’t being straight with the people of Maine. The jobs report shows that Maine trails behind. His policies are holding back our economy and our people,” said Speaker of the House Mark Eves of North Berwick.
Under Governor LePage’s watch, Maine ranks 48th in the nation for all job growth and 46th for private sector job growth. Additionally, as other New England states have recovered all of the jobs they lost during the recession, Maine has recovered only one-third.
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