PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - A report on Maine’s economy in 2019 reveals inequity in quality of life along racial lines and the importance of early childhood education.
The annual report from the nonpartisan Maine Economic Growth Council uses a number of measures to compare Maine’s economy to New England and the United States, the Portland Press Herald reported on Wednesday.
The report added a measure of racial income inequity this year and found that between 2014-2018, income for people of color in the state was 39% less than for white Mainers.
Maine is one of the whitest states in the country, according to U.S. Census data, but the state’s recent population growth is largely driven by people of color moving to the state, the newspaper reported.
The report also looked at prekindergarten attendance and found that 46% of 4-year-olds in Maine are enrolled, which is well above the national and New England averages.
In other measures, Maine slipped against benchmarks, including poverty, gross domestic product, international exports, entrepreneurship, postsecondary degree attainment and occupational credentials, cost of energy, transportation infrastructure, housing affordability and wellness and prevention.
Maine’s value added per worker and investment in research in development remain among the lowest in the country, while the cost of doing business is among the highest, the newspaper reported.
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