Department of Labor Publishes Maine Workforce Outlook to 2024 Bookmark and Share

September 12, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 12, 2016 Media Contact: Julie Rabinowitz, Department of Labor, 207-621-5009

AUGUSTA? The Center for Workforce Research and Information (CWRI), part of the Maine Department of Labor, has published its 10-year forecast for the workforce for the period through 2024. The forecast examines total workforce change based on population and labor force participation expectations and examines job growth or decline among more than 80 industries and nearly 650 occupations.

?This forecast highlights the need for Maine to continue economic reforms that will help us address our workforce challenges,? said Governor Paul R. LePage. ?Our state must be able to compete with other states and countries for the people, investments, jobs and industries that will increase the prosperity of our people.?

The outlook is designed to provide information for three core purposes: to help employers address and plan for future workforce needs, to aid individuals in making informed career choices and to guide educational institutions in developing curriculum that aligns with the needs of both students and employers.

The projections are broadly highlighted in a presentation at http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/data/projections/2024/2024_Outlook.pdf . A blog titled The Outlook for Workforce Growth to 2024 (at http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/blog.html ) discusses how demographic trends in the population have been slowing growth over the last three decades and how workforce growth is expected to be further constrained as more baby boomers age to retirement and smaller numbers of young people come of age to enter the labor force in the decade through 2024. Additional blogs on occupational job change and on the outlook for STEM jobs will be published later this fall.

Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette stated, ?This workforce outlook underscores the importance of connecting people who are out of work or underemployed, including people on welfare and people with disabilities, with the job skills necessary for in-demand occupations. We also need to seek new opportunities to attract workers and their families to Maine through efforts like the Hire-A-Vet campaign, Live+Work in Maine, and other collaborations. Furthermore, we must use apprenticeship and other training programs to increase the skills of our workers to attract new businesses, workers and opportunities for economic growth.?

Detail on the outlook for workforce change in total and by age group is at http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/outlookDemographic.html . Detail on the outlook for job change for industries and occupations is at http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/outlook.html .

CWRI develops and disseminates state and area labor market information on employment, unemployment, wages and other measures to assist in making decisions that promote economic opportunity and efficient use of the state?s labor resources.

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