Jobs For Connecticut Now

Maine is falling behind its New England neighbors when it comes to broadband and job growth, according to a recent study from the Maine Heritage Policy Center.

Maine’s central problem, according to the report, is a lack of depth in terms of broadband capacity and speed. When measuring connections with advertised speeds of at least 3 mbps, Maine’s subscriber ratio of 15 percent falls far behind the U.S. average of 33 percent. The authors concluded that Maine “is severely lacking in broadband depth.”

That lack of depth is hitting Maine’s economy hard. While the study notes that New England in general is “strong and healthy” in the Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) industries, Maine is suffering.  After measuring Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment, and average compensation, the study found that Maine has the weakest ICT industry in New England. Next door, New Hampshire boasts a robust subscriber ratio of 53 percent, the strongest ICT industry in New England.

Maine Heritage Policy Center Chief Economist J. Scott Moody, who co-authored the report, says the findings are proof that access to high-speed broadband is the key to job growth and cautions that Maine is in serious economic trouble.

“The facts are clear, increased broadband access means more jobs for Mainers,” said Moody. “If Maine doesn’t address the need for increased broadband depth with high-speed residential and business broadband, we will continue to fall behind our neighbor states economically, and creating new jobs will become even more difficult.”

You can check out the full study from the Maine Heritage Policy Center here