Maine women still earn less, more likely to live in poverty [Video]

AUGUSTA — While recent efforts have improved the economic security and working lives of Maine women, they still lag men in pay and are more likely to live in poverty despite having higher levels of education, according to data compiled in a new state report.

The report released Thursday highlights the gender disparities in Maine’s economy and calls for a range of additional reforms to close the gender pay gap and improve opportunities for women.

Full-time working women in Maine earn about 83 cents for every dollar earned by men and about 56% of MaineCare enrollees are women, according to data compiled in the 2024 biennial report of the Maine Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. At the same time, women in Maine generally are more educated than men: Nearly 40% have college degree compared to 34% of men.

The commission, which advises the governor and Legislature, released the report Thursday with an aim of equipping incoming lawmakers with information …