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Let's strengthen Maine's economy
Maine’s Problem with an Aging Workforce
It’s no secret that Maine has an aging population. Our state is facing a demographic crisis, and it’s only going to get worse in the years to come. The median age in Maine is 44, which is six years older than the national average. And according to the most recent census data, we have more people over the age of 65 than any other state in the country based on population and size.
How It’s Affecting the Economy
This aging population is having a profound impact on our economy. As baby boomers retire, they are leaving behind a workforce that is increasingly smaller and less skilled. This puts a strain on businesses and makes it difficult to attract new jobs and investments. What’s more, Maine continues to lose its young workers with each passing year. There are many reasons for this, but one of the most significant is that our state has a brain drain. Each year, thousands of young people leave Maine to seek opportunities elsewhere. This “brain drain” costs the state millions of dollars in lost productivity and future tax revenue.
The Solution: Attracting Young Workers Back to Maine
One of the best ways to address our state’s demographic crisis is to focus on attracting young workers back to Maine. This will require a concerted effort on the part of businesses, state and local leaders, and educational institutions. We need to create an environment that is conducive to young people’s success, and we need to make it clear that Maine is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. But it’s not enough to just attract young workers back to Maine; we also need to retain them. We need to create good-paying jobs and provide pathways for career growth. And we need to invest in our infrastructure and our communities. Only by taking these steps will we be able to address our state’s demographic crisis and build a strong economy for the future. The Alliance for Maine is a nonpartisan, business-led organization that is working to make Maine a more prosperous state for all of its citizens. We believe that by focusing on attracting and retaining young people, we can help to strengthen our economy and build a bright future for Maine. If you care about the future of our state, we hope you will join us in our efforts. We encourage you to sign up for our email newsletter so that you can stay connected to our cause to strengthen Maine’s economy.