Maine Industry Partnerships for Workforce Development

Department of Labor

Allocation: $3,700,000

Status: Active

Job training programs can improve the employment and wage outcomes for under- and unemployed workers, but only if they are preparing participants for in-demand positions and with the skills that industry employers are seeking.

Maine’s Department of Labor is launching an Industry Partnerships Initiative to encourage businesses, labor organizations, and industry associations to form sector-based partnerships to facilitate more effective job training programs for Mainers. In industries critical to Maine’s recovery and growth – including health care, clean energy, construction and trades, manufacturing, agriculture, and others – these collaborations will help companies work together to attract potential employees to the field, strengthen career ladders that let entry-level workers advance to higher-wage positions, and partner with educational and training institutions to shape curricula aligned with industry talent needs.