🔒Manufacturing: Mounting workforce stress for manufacturers

Workforce development in Maine’s manufacturing sector is a priority for John Lewis, who took the helm of the Manufacturers Association of Maine in 2025. In 2026, he expects two trends to shape the sector: the quickening pace of retirements among skilled workers and the increasing integration of automation and digital technologies: Both “are pushing employers to think differently about how they attract and develop talent,” he says. Lewis offers a mixed outlook on Maine’s economy as a whole. “Maine’s economy appears steady and shows real promise in sectors like advanced manufacturing, national defense and innovation,” he says. “But we have to be candid: the cost of living and the cost of doing business in Maine continue to rise. That reality affects our ability to attract and retain workers and places additional pressure on employers.”