Workforce shortage identified in Paris/Norway region
Job-seekers often don’t have the skills needed for the jobs that are available.
The Advertiser Democrat reported that this disconnect, plus transportation and housing difficulties, is causing a workforce shortage in the greater Paris/Norway region.
Community Concepts in Paris recently held a meeting of employment and business experts, including Zakk Maher and Kevin Smart of Community Concepts Finance Corp., Diane Peet of Western Maine Community Action and Patti Gray of the Lewiston CareerCenter (which also serves Oxford and Franklin counties), to try and find solutions.
“The demand is displaced. Where there [are] a lot of unemployed job seekers, there aren’t a lot of jobs,” Gray said. “But in the bigger metropolitan areas, there is a lot of business, so they’re looking for employees, but everyone’s got a job.”
People currently unemployed are generally those with the most barriers, Peet said, adding that barriers to employment include disabilities, child care, lack of skills and/or a criminal background.
The group came up with suggestions to reverse the situation, such as having younger people train older folks on how to use computers, employer-based training and job fairs.
Jason Shiers, owner of Pleasant Hill Property Services, said 2016 was difficult for his growing company due to problems finding and maintaining qualified employees.
“Finding qualified people is a struggle,” Shiers said.
According to Peet, the November unemployment rate of 4% for the state “is not an accurate reflection of all people who could use a job.” The statistic “doesn’t capture 20-somethings home on the couch [or the] 60-year-olds who could use work.”
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