Economy

In May, 29% of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill, marking the lowest level since May 2020.

Nearly half of Maine businesses surveyed by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce cite workforce challenges and policy uncertainty as barriers to growth .

Nonfarm wage and salary jobs in Maine rose by 1,700 in April on a seasonally adjusted basis over the previous month, driven by hiring gains in health care and business and professional services.

Susan M. Collins, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, said she opposes interest rate cuts as the Iran war pushes inflation to a three-year high.

A report released by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Maine Community Foundation calls for a more predictable, efficient and transparent regulatory environment.

A monthly national barometer of small business optimism released by the National Federation of Independent Business shows a dip in March. In a monthly barometer released Tuesday, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 3 points in March to 95.8, leaving it below its 52-year average of 98.

Maine's real GDP growth rate was 0.0% for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2025, measured on an annualized basis. Personal income grew by 2.9%.

“There’s really no workarounds," an industry insider said. “We’re not going back to the days of cross-cut saws and horses."

While some construction companies are already feeling the pinch of higher fuel costs, others are weighing their next moves.

"The wage gap remains a reality we must confront," Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said on Thursday's National Equal Pay Day. The designation represents how far into the year women in the U.S. just have worked in 2026 to earn what men made in 2025.