Maine labor shortage will persist, but tech is gaining [Video]

Job growth in Maine is slowing as birth rates drop and more members of the vast baby boom generation retire. The trend will continue to complicate efforts by businesses to find workers over the next several years.

One bright spot has emerged in Maine’s labor force, according to a recent report by the state Department of Labor. Digital technology that’s boosting worker productivity in virtually all occupations, from trucking to office work, is helping to meet demand for products and services while contributing to higher wages and living standards.

Glenn Mills, deputy director of the Center for Workforce Research at the Department of Labor, said employers are navigating a tight labor market by finding ways to boost efficiency.

“Productivity improvements are happening everywhere,” he said.

In 2022, the largest share of the population was 55 to 64, with an average of 68% typically in the labor force. By 2032, that group will age to between 65 and 74, …