FARMINGTON – Trends of poverty in Maine were shared by Lisa Pohlmann at the Western Maine Legislative Caucus.

Poverty has been increasing in Maine, she said, although at a slightly lower rate than nationally.

More than 140,000 people live below the federal poverty level in Maine.

The state also has a higher proportion of elderly residents, which usually means higher poverty rates.

Women and nonwhites are still marginalized in the new Maine economy, she said. Women working full time still only earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.

Women also have more service-type employment and represent a larger percentage of poverty than men.

Maine has a faster growing population than it has had for many years. The state is growing faster than other in New England, except New Hampshire.

While incomes are growing slightly, she said, top wage earners receive the most with middle incomes remaining at no growth and lower incomes either staying the same or falling behind.

Rising costs of basic necessities and low wages for working poor have meant more reliance on public assistance programs, she said.

Also, sometimes a small increase in income may result in a larger loss in benefits from assistance programs.

Maine is also fighting the health care cost crisis with one out of five people relying on the MaineCare Program, she said.

Mainers’ incomes rely heavily on federal funds such as Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.

The job climate in Maine is mixed with unemployment rates lower than the national average in southern counties but an employment decline in all but two rural counties.

Maine lacks skilled workers for the new economy. A lower percentage of Maine adults have college degrees.

Current policy is to look for tax cuts, not to increasing public assistance, she said.