Maine Job Quality Lag

A new study finds that a quarter of the jobs in Maine do not pay enough for a family of four's basic needs in housing, transport, education and food. About half of the jobs here provide no pensions or sick leave.

The findings echo recent evidence of the lower quality of service-industry jobs, compared to the manufacturing positions they replaced. One in 12 Mainers now holds more than one job, compared to the national average of one in 20, the report said.

"The very high percentage of working families (below poverty level) is really alarming -- it's bigger than we imagined," said Lisa Pohlmann, associate director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy and co-author of the report.

More here.