Partnership, between employers and educators, is key to workforce development in Maine

By David Daigler and Bob Shultz

Where there is room for growth, there is also opportunity. Such is the state of Maine’s economy, which continues to grapple with a worker shortage and the threat of young Mainers leaving for what they perceive as greener pastures.

From healthcare to manufacturing, Maine’s employers are struggling to recruit and retain the human capital they need to compete in the global economy. While unemployment is low across the state, this does not necessarily mean that labor force participation is high, with older workers dropping out of the workforce altogether and young job-seekers eyeing the likes of Boston, New York, and other beacons of opportunity.

Maine is not always seen as a hub of entrepreneurship, innovation, and opportunity, but the truth is that prosperity beckons here. According to recent research, there are 50 workers for every 100 jobs available in Maine, meaning that employers are desperate for talented individuals to fill those jobs and contribute to the state economy. Job creators are especially keen on workers who can bring creativity and energy to entry- and mid-level positions in not only Augusta, Bangor, Portland, and other cities, but also towns like Guilford and Pittsfield (where Puritan Medical Products is located).

At a time when living costs are sky-high in some parts of Maine, other communities represent cost-effective destinations to live and work comfortably. Puritan is just one employer hiring for dozens of positions outside of major urban areas, and there are many other examples.

In order for the Maine economy to reach its full potential, education will be key, and not just any one form of education. Colleges that teach the trades are just as important as liberal arts colleges, and students should leave no stone unturned as they prepare themselves for future careers, whether they are studying philosophy or plumbing. Learning a skilled trade is a satisfying, lucrative career path for many Mainers.

A key component of Maine’s workforce development is its community college system, which offers a high-quality education while also providing a financial reprieve from the specter of high tuition and student loan debt down the road. For recent high school graduates, the new Free College Scholarship covers 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees at any one of seven Maine Community College System campuses across the state.

Not surprisingly, there are now thousands of Maine students pursuing degrees and certificates under the Free College Scholarship program, gaining valuable educational experiences without accumulating crippling debt. Enrollment is up 10 percent in recent months at Maine’s community colleges, and transfers to the University of Maine System are up too.

But degrees and certificates aren’t enough. Short-term workforce training at the community colleges — developed in partnership with Maine employers like Puritan — fills a critical role in preparing people of all ages to enter the workforce fast, with the exact skills they need. When Maine colleges and employers work together to train workers, it ensures that students learn the skills they need to succeed in the modern workplace.

Maine’s community colleges have vastly expanded their short-term workforce training programs over the last five years, thanks to public and private investments. Working with employers like Puritan, community colleges use public-private partnerships to move at the speed of business. This means collaborating with job creators up front, designing coursework and identifying shared expectations ahead of time so that skills can match job requirements. Such collaboration pays off for everyone — community colleges educating students, students looking for jobs, and employers seeking top talent.

What Mainers must recognize is that workforce development has always been a shared responsibility. Neither employers nor academic institutions are alone in this fight. To the contrary, partnership remains a win-win-win for the state of Maine.

Daigler is president of the Maine Community College System. Shultz is president and chief financial officer of Puritan Medical Products.