Center for Workforce Research and Information Launches Blog

March 12, 2014

For Immediate Release: March 12, 2014 Contact: Julie Rabinowitz, Maine Department of Labor, 207-621-5009

Economists will provide context for workforce conditions and trends

AUGUSTA?The Center for Workforce Research and Information (CWRI) of the Maine Department of Labor has launched a non-partisan blog on Maine?s economy. Economists will use it to provide context for workforce conditions and trends. The blog is available at http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/blog.html .

?Understanding both the changing nature of our economy and what forces are at play is essential to moving Maine forward,? said Governor Paul R. LePage. ?Education, knowledge and skill demands are changing rapidly as technology affects how we work. Aging is impacting workforce growth.?

?Business leaders, policymakers and job seekers must examine these trends to make informed decisions. Economic data sometimes provides conflicting signals about growth. Our analysts provide some clarity and context to the changing dynamics for those who want to use this information,? the Governor added.

The initial posts include profiles of Who Is Not Participating in the Labor Force? and Union Membership in 2013 as well as a short excerpt of a national study on The Rising Cost of Not Going to College and a look at recently published annual unemployment-rate revisions for Maine.

CWRI develops and disseminates information on employment, unemployment and wages; analyzes outcomes of education and training programs to guide decision-making; and develops industry and occupational employment forecasts designed to guide career planning and curriculum development. They work with a wide range of customers to provide context to the dynamics of the economy and the implications those have for workforce development. CWRI publishes a variety of data on Maine?s economy, workforce and demographics at http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri .

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