Apprenticeships can pay dividends for workers and Maine’s economy
Letters submitted by BDN readers are verified by BDN Opinion Page staff. Send your letters to letters@bangordailynews.com.
The recent article in the Bangor Daily News on a Maine yacht maker paying off student loans for their newly hired workers is just one example of how innovative employers have to be in the current economy with a dire shortage of skilled workers. Another great proven strategy is increasing apprenticeships for Maine high school students and opportunity youth.
Apprenticeships offer young people a blend of teaching with real-life work experience and hands-on learning. These programs are a key strategy to support Maine’s educational attainment goal that 60 percent of adults in our state have a credential of value by 2025.
That’s why I’m pleased to see the new partnership between Educate Maine and the Maine Department of Labor to expand much-needed apprenticeships in construction, trades,…