Some Maine business owners report that they are having a tough time finding enough workers with the skills needed for today’s jobs. In an attempt to meet that need, Gov. Paul LePage has proposed a package of bills that he says is aimed at increasing the supply of skilled workers.
The package put forth by LePage is focused on upping the number of graduates entering the workforce training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, all areas in which Maine has lagged behind the rest of the country at a time when the demand for those skills is expected to grow.
At one of his recent town hall meetings, the governor pointed to the state’s changing demographics and to the need to keep and attract younger workers.
“Many in the workforce are in their late 50s, in a few more years they are going to retire,” he said. “It’s important that we replace those jobs. As I speak to you tonight, there are 15,000 jobs in Maine right now, all above minimum wage, and we can’t fill them because we don’t have the people.”
One of LePage’s three bills would expand the current tax credit available to graduates who stay and work in Maine after they leave school, or who come back to live and work in Maine after completing their degree. Two other measures seek to ease the debt from attending college through low-interest and no-interest loans.
Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond of Portland is sponsoring all three bills on behalf of the governor, despite their past political disagreements.
“The governor and I see eye to eye on bringing more skilled workers to the state of Maine,” he said. “This is something we need to do. Workers are needed here in Maine, we want them here in Maine and we are trying to create the right incentives to bring great college graduates to come to Maine, stay in Maine and work in Maine.”
The loan program would direct the Finance Authority of Maine to sell bonds and offer low- or no-interest loans of up to $7,500 a year for a four-year college degree. To pay for the interest on those loans, the governor is proposing a $10 million bond that the voters would have to approve at referendum.
Alfond says the state needs to invest in its greatest resource, its people. LePage argues it’s a better use of state resources than some other state programs.
“If we can pay for illegal immigrants, and we can pay for asylum seekers, then we can pay the interest of the student loans for our kids in college, or in trade schools,” he said. “I am all in for that.”
The measures drew broad support at separate public hearings held by the Legislature’s committees on Education, Taxation and Appropriations. Linda Caprara of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce said the package will help address the state’s lack of skilled workers.
“Students who are graduating now are saddled with huge debt,” she said. “If we can encourage employers to hire these students and find them jobs and help pay for their loans, that’s absolutely critical.”
University of Maine System Chief Financial Officer Ryan Low told lawmakers that the programs being considered will build on efforts already underway to encourage the growth of graduates in the high-demand STEM fields.
“We all know that Maine must increase the creation and retention of STEM graduates and employees,” he said. “As you are aware the system has committed to a tuition freeze for the sixth year in a row. When you combine the potential of programs like this one with the system’s low tuition rates, we’re making it easier for those graduates to live and work in Maine.”
The Taxation Committee gave unanimous approval to the bill expanding the education tax credit at a work session immediately following the public hearing.
The majority of the Education Committee made some small changes to the proposed legislation and three members wanted to limit the benefits to those who attend Maine schools.
The Appropriations Committee has yet to schedule a work session on the bond proposal and may consider it with all the other bonding measures it has under consideration.
This article appears through a media partnership with Maine Public Broadcasting Network.