THE MAINE ADVANTAGE: Maine Work Force

FAVORABLE LABOR DEMOGRAPHICS

Many rural areas such as Somerset County have high unemployment rates and even higher underemployment rates. This pocket of available labor provides a unique opportunity for companies struggling to find a productive work force.

At the same time, this work force is well-educated with the highest rate of high school completion in the nation (94.5 percent), and 86 percent of registered job seekers have high school or post-secondary degrees.

Additionally, the superior “Yankee” work ethic is world-renowned. This translates into high productivity, strong employee loyalty, and low absenteeism. Companies doing business in this area (please refer to the listing of Somerset County Businesses, page 12 of the prospect kit) clearly recognize the importance of their employees.

Employee loyalty in Madison stems from the fact that many citizens here have lived in this community for generations. They want to stay close to their roots and work for a local employer. The net result is a unique level of loyalty.

Maine also offers a robust set of workforce training programs. To learn more, click here.