Town officials were given the state’s Safety and Health Award for Public Employers
Maine Department of Labor
Where have all the workers gone? And when will they return?
Short answer: Most of them won’t. The past two years have upended the job market and created a vast labor shortage. It won’t improve anytime soon.
Seasonal businesses in central Maine struggle to find workers as economic conditions improve
The national economy is humming and companies are ramping up hiring, but seasonal businesses in central Maine continue to struggle to find enough help as they prepare for the busy summer months.
Thousands of Mainers told to repay pandemic-related jobless benefits
The state is attempting to recoup $46 million from 11,000 Mainers it says failed to retroactively prove their eligibility for a federal aid program.
Maine’s economy edged closer to pre-pandemic employment in February
The state gained 3,200 jobs last month, largely in healthcare and social assistance, leisure and hospitality, and construction.
Maine to launch ‘peer navigator’ program for job seekers
The Department of Labor will contract with five nonprofits to connect residents with training, education, employment and other resources.
Mills administration cracking down on employer wage and hour violations
The state Department of Labor returned about $470,000 in unpaid wages to Maine workers in 2021, almost double the amount in 2019. Now it is naming violators online.
Maine labor department mistake reveals personal information
Documents were loaded into the incorrect accounts, making the benefits and other details available for others to see for a brief period.
Thousands of Mainers at risk of losing, having to repay federal unemployment aid
About 7,400 people did not submit proof of a prior job, but one top labor organizer blamed poor communication by the state as well as technical issues.
Maine adds 3,000 jobs in June, but jobless rate holds steady at 4.8%
The unemployment rate, adjusted seasonally, has been unchanged in Maine for five consecutive months.