10-year economic strategy shows wage gains, hiring challenges [Video]

New data from the state shows Maine workers are earning more than they were five years ago but hiring remains a challenge for employers. On Friday, leaders from the Mills administration released an updated 10-year economic development strategy, building on goals set in 2019. Maine’s first case of COVID-19 was detected three months after the first report was published. “Our ability to actually react both to the short-term problems created by the pandemic and long-term systemic challenges in our economy, we were able to kind of react to both of those at once having this roadmap in place,” Heather Johnson, Commissioner of Maine’s Department of Economic and Community Development, said.The updated report shows Maine has hit two of three major targets. The first was to grow the average annual wage by 10%.The second was to boost productivity by increasing the value of goods sold per worker by 10%. What Maine …