Livable Wage Report Released Bookmark and Share

February 1, 2010

The Maine Department of Labor Center for Workforce Research and Information has released a new report, Maine Livable Wage in 2008. The publication provides an alternate measure of income adequacy that reflects personal and household expenses that make up a basic needs budget.

The standard for calculating the livable wage was developed by the Maine Center for Economic Policy in recognition that the federal poverty level or minimum wage rate did not provide a reasonable standard of livability for Maine families. The livable wage rate was first calculated in 1999.

In 2008, the livable wage rate for a single adult was calculated at $10.65 per hour or $20.00 per hour for a single adult with two children.

Click here to download the full version of Maine Livable Wage in 2008