More than 2,500 residents applied for state and federal jobless benefits in the second week of November.
Peter McGuire
Peter McGuire is a business reporter covering Maine trade, transportation and tourism. A proud native of the western Maine mountains, there is a good chance he’d rather be playing outside. Peter has covered local news for Maine newspapers in Oxford County, Brunswick, Waterville and Portland. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Boston University. He lives in Biddeford with his wife Stephanie and brown rescue dog named Emmy Lou.
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Pandemic strands thousands of Mainers in long-term unemployment
There’s a wide variety of jobs available in Maine, but concerns about COVID-19, child care challenges and other issues are keeping them out of reach for many.
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Posted inBusiness, Maine
State emergency grant recipients to begin receiving checks next week
About $105 million awarded to about 2,300 small businesses and nonprofits will start going out soon, economic development officials say.
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Unemployment claims remain high in Maine as virus cases spike
Roughly 2,500 residents filed new jobless claims or reopened previous claims last week, while another 44,000 continuing claims were filed.
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Portland chamber says minimum wage increase could devastate businesses
Proponents say the increase to $15 by 2024 will help women and people of color, but many employers are concerned that a hazard pay provision requiring time-and-a-half pay during a declared emergency will put them out of business.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Maine set to end extended jobless benefits next month
The program gives an extra 13 weeks of jobless benefits to unemployed workers, but only during periods of very high unemployment.
Posted inBusiness, Maine
As new deadline approaches, employers take issue with emergency grant program
Confusing application language and requirements may have sunk chances for some struggling small businesses and nonprofits to get assistance in the state program’s first phase.
Posted inBusiness, Maine
HospitalityMaine CEO to leave trade group
Steve Hewins will step down as the organization’s leader at the end of the year.
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Unemployment claims dip in Maine, but widespread layoffs continue
Seven months into the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of Mainers are still filing new jobless claims each week.
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Maine economy added just 4,700 jobs in September, fewest in past 5 months
The state’s estimated unemployment rate was 6% for the month, but was likely higher because thousands of potential workers are no longer counted in the labor force.