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Updated: December 9, 2019 Focus on Employment/HR/Benefits

Quick takes on Maine manufacturing’s workforce challenges

By Renee Cordes

Mainebiz asked three Maine manufacturing executives what they consider the sector’s biggest workforce challenge, and their plans in that area for 2020. 

Carolyn Brodsky: Founder and CEO, Sterling Rope (Biddeford / 75 employees)

Photo / Courtesy of Carolyn Brodsky
Carolyn Brodsky

The sector’s biggest workforce challenge: “Government getting in the way.”

Further thoughts: “Our greatest challenge right now is that the economy is booming and most of the available workforce is working, or being paid not to work, or don’t have the proper paperwork to work. We need to figure out a way to help those folks who want to work but aren’t, and those who have immigrated here, whether legally or not, to be vetted (use our veterans!), taught English (use our retired teachers!), if theirs is not good or non-existent, so they can communicate and understand the requirements of the job. We all need people to fill the jobs available … The challenge is to develop policy that encourages working and for companies to do the training.”

Sterling Rope’s 2020 workforce goals: “We are actively engaged in creating a new onboarding and training process. We are auditing all staff and senior managers and determining where their skills gaps are to help them address those gaps. On the plant floor, we actively cross train. Our goal is to create a positive culture with employees who get great satisfaction from their job so that they stay with Sterling.”

Gary Merrill: President and CEO, Hussey Seating (North Berwick / 310 employees)

File Photo / Tim Greenway
Gary Merrill

The sector’s biggest workforce challenge: “Like many in our industry and state, recruiting skilled employees in manufacturing and engineering trades has been challenging. In general, expanding and retaining talent in the state is crucial, and we have been very involved with Educate Maine and MaineSpark in these initiatives.”

Hussey Seating’s 2020 workforce goals: “We take workforce development very seriously and work closely with local vocational and university programs to help shape career-focused educational opportunities. Besides an internship program, we also have a renewed focus on onboarding and training to ensure that when we do find that top talent that they’re set up for success from the second they walk through the doors at Hussey Seating.”

Michael Tardiff: Vice president of marketing, J.S. McCarthy Printers (Augusta / 200 employee owners)

Photo / Courtesy of J.S. McCarthy Printers
Left to right: Jon Tardiff, Amy Tardiff, Matthew Tardiff, and Michael Tardiff

The sector’s biggest workforce challenge: “It is no secret that all businesses struggle to find and retain a quality workforce, especially given the shortage of qualified trade school graduates. That being said, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to engage, train, and retain our multi-generational workforce with competitive benefits and incentives.”

J.S. McCarthy Printers’ 2020 workforce goals: “We will continue to educate our workforce about the benefits of employee ownership by fostering a culture of accountability.”

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