Workforce Talent Team

WORKFORCE & TALENT DEVELOPMENT TEAM

MISSION STATEMENT

To understand the current and future workforce needs and opportunities of Maine’s marine resource economy, related to existing and new market opportunities, and to develop strategies to sustain, strengthen, and grow the workforce.

PROJECT GOALS

Important to the marine resources economy’s competitiveness and growth is the ability to match the supply of skilled workers with the workforce demand of industry. This subcommittee will identify current and future workforce needs, build on existing workforce efforts in the sector, and develop an action plan to sustain and grow the workforce for the future of the marine resource economy. This will include identifying the skills required for existing and new opportunities, ensuring current workers have the skills they need, and the sector is well positioned to attract and prepare the necessary workforce for emerging technology, new products and opportunities. This group will identify the training and skills development opportunities, the credentials of value for the industries, and ways to attract and connect talent to opportunity.

SUBCOMMITTEE TASKS AND ACTION ITEMS:

Identify current and projected workforce needs and skills demands of industry, including those related to market impacts of COVID-19 and new market opportunities.
Develop a comprehensive workforce action plan and strategy to sustain and grow the marine resource economy workforce, by building on existing workforce efforts in the sector, including:
1. Project workforce and skills demands for marine economy
2. Identify current and future occupational Profiles and career Pathways in the sector
3. Assess and strengthen workforce pipeline
4. Assess and strengthen target, attraction, and retention workforce strategies
5. Assess and strengthen workforce training and delivery system:
  1. Align with other efforts (DOL, state plans, etc.)
  2. Look for adaptability and relevance to other sectors
Align workforce plan with other efforts (i.e. individual sub-sector efforts, FocusMaine, state plans: Governor’s Economic Recovery Committee and 10-year strategic plan)

PRIMARY AREAS OF INTEREST - SHORT TERM (COVID-19 RELATED):

Alignment with Governor’s Economic Recovery Committee
Worker safety in response to COVID
Workforce retention and retraining

LONGER TERM

Continued alignment with Governor’s Economic Recovery Committee
Workforce needs of other subcommittees, especially the New Opportunities and Emerging Technologies Subcommittee
Strategies to attract and retain workers in a post COVID Maine
In-demand jobs, gaps, emerging jobs
Pathways for workers through CTE (Career/Technical Education – high school), Community College System, Universities
Industry health and safety
Increased investment in this sector
Working waterfront infrastructure (including social infrastructure/coastal communities)
Cost barriers – health care, turnover, etc.

OUTCOME:

To provide the necessary knowledge to develop a comprehensive workforce strategy(s) that supports long-term competitiveness and growth in Maine’s marine resource sector and economy and achieves the goals of the SEAMaine initiative. Maine’s existing and emerging seafood species and seafood products provide opportunities for new and expanded seafood businesses, a more diverse seafood economy, high value exports, and increased jobs and wages along the coast. This includes aligning the current and future seafood economy workforce needs with Maine’s Career and Technical Education Centers (CTE), Community Colleges and Universities, apprenticeships and other on the job training programs. Other SEAMaine subcommittees are charged with market development opportunities, strengthening emerging technology and innovation in the sector, and benchmarking marine resource data. The combined work of these groups will lead to the development of a roadmap and action plan for Maine’s future marine resource economy. The purpose of the SEAMAine is to attract private and public investment in the economic development and growth of this sector which is so vital to the state of Maine and rural, coastal communities.