AUGUSTA – The Maine Center for Economic Policy recently released a report regarding how race equity in the workplace boosts the economy.
“Some of the big findings in my report are that if we had an economy that was fair and benefited all workers equally, we would be able to have an economy that had just over a half a billion dollars in extra economic activity,” said James Myall, policy analyst for the Maine Center for Economic Policy. “It would be supporting an additional 4,000 jobs.”
Myall said there’s a growing population of people of color in the state.
“What we know from experience and looking at the economic data through the years is that our economy is certainly strongest when all families have the resources they need to cover the basics and keep money flowing through their communities,” said Garrett Martin, executive director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy.
According to Myall the report focuses on making sure everyone has the opportunity to get a job and that they’re treated and paid fairly there.
“Some of the ideas that we point to include making sure the laws and protections we already have on the books that are supposed to ensure racial equality are being enforced fairly,” Myall said.
They say fixing this will take some time.
“I think it’s sort of a combination of, there are steps that people can be taking immediately to fix some of these problems, and then it’s also having a commitment to working towards racial equity over the long term,” Myall said.
“We look forward to continuing to be a partner with policymakers with businesses with people in communities throughout the state,” Martin said.
Myall said the biggest takeaway from the report is that improving the economy can impact everyone throughout the state.
