Skills gap tougher for rural areas
A recent study by the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce found that over 40% of jobs in Maine are in the greater Portland area, which has the state's highest education rates and densest population.
But municipal and economic development officials in Piscataquis County — which has Maine's lowest education rates and unemployment rates of nearly 10% — told the Bangor Daily News that it's hard for the rural county to take any tips on boosting those numbers from other parts of the state.
In a report covering the "skills gap" in Maine's work force, a BDN study of U.S. Census data on jobs, education, labor force, median income and population density found that the picture around the state varies widely.
And for rural parts of the state, University of Maine economics professor Todd Gabe said starting with less access to higher education and smaller populations can pose big challenges from the start.
"It's got to be frustrating for rural areas that don't have a large population base to begin with," Gabe told the BDN. "They're kind of swimming upstream."
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