What will build a workforce for Maine’s future?
Growing Maine's Economy Maine FocusA number of efforts are already underway in Maine to build a workforce ready to take on the jobs of Maine’s economic future.
The Democratic majority made the state’s workforce a key issue of this year’s legislative session, assigning a special legislative committee the task of developing legislation aimed at strengthening the state’s workforce. The committee wrote legislation focused largely on programs designed to equip a larger share of Maine residents with post-secondary degrees.
After all, 59 percent of Maine jobs will require some form of post-secondary training by 2018, according to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.
A Bangor Daily News analysis in March explored the committee’s attempts to establish a scholarship fund to help Mainers with some college but no degree to return to college and to attract Maine students to high-wage, in-demand fields.
The conclusion?
These efforts are a start, but there’s much more to be done if Maine is going to improve its economic prospects.