Economy Sound with
22,000 New Jobs from 2003 to 2005
Two workers from Portsmouth Navel
Shipyard in Kittery thank the governor for standing firm and fighting the Federal
Department of Defense to keep the base open. The governor saved 4,800 jobs at PNSY. In the
past three years Governor Baldacci has helped save over 7,000 jobs in the state.
Most of us judge the economy by what we see:
new businesses opening up, businesses expanding, workers at construction sites, and
whether or not our stores are busy. Not bad indicators, but not a fair assessment of a
state as large as Maine. Each county has unique qualities, talented people, and natural
assets. With 16 counties in an area of 33,215 square miles, it’s a challenge to
“see” how the state is doing overall.
Then there are folks that have returned or
come to Maine to start their lives over in what has become known as the “creative
economy.” Entrepreneurs to corporate executives have chosen Maine because of its
quality of life. They are setting up new businesses, many of which do not rely on
“going to work” other than turning on the computer at home. The Internet has
given rise to ever-increasing home-based employment, and with the Baldacci
administration’s efforts, more people in Maine are taking advantage of the worldwide
telecommunications community for incomes.
Others are starting businesses in towns all
across the state. “My dream was to open a café,” said one of the owners of a
busy Dover Foxcroft establishment. “I traveled back and forth to Boston the last year
before I opened the Cup and Easel, to make enough to start it up. Now here we are.
Maine’s given me the opportunity to do what I always wanted to.” The café also
serves as a gallery for local artisans who are part of the creative economy. The owner
said he made the final decision to locate in Maine when he found out the local lumberyard
was going to stay open and expand because of a Pine Tree Zone certification. “To
me that meant the state is looking out for its small businesses and helping where
needed.”
“Maine’s high quality of
life, good air-and-highway connections, combined with accessible fiber optic
communications capacity, may be very conducive to more professionals who live here, get
their paychecks from somewhere else, but spend most of it here, thus helping the economy
grow,” said Commissioner of the Department of Labor Laura Fortman.
Maine is becoming a place to pursue realistic
dreams, far away from the maddening crowd. The telecommunications infrastructure continues
to expand across Maine with the governor’s IT (information technology) initiatives
and ConnectMe program, and more business assistance has been set up because of
Baldacci’s foresight into the new economy.
But how can one get a realistic pulse on the
level of employment in Maine, since it is changing rapidly in this new economy?
“Traditionally, we have focused on jobs
numbers based on jobs created by Maine firms. This is what is called payroll or non-farm
employment,” said Fortman. In a new study the Department of Labor (DOL) used a new
method to calculate job growth, based more upon the face of the changing economy.
“When we focus on Maine residents
employed, the number of Maine residents employed increased from 655,000 to 677,000 or by
22,000 between 2002 and 2005. In this count of household-based employment, we include
self-employed individuals, private household workers, farm workers, and Maine residents
working out of state.”
That’s 22,000 new jobs on John
Baldacci’s watch.
“A 22,000 increase in Maine residents
working shows positive growth, and growth in a way that reflects the 21st Century economy.
More than before, through technology and the globalization of economies, people can enjoy
the benefits of living in Maine while doing work in the next state, across the country, or
across the globe,” said State Planning Director Martha Freeman. “The
governor’s technology initiatives, research and development investments, emphasis on
obtaining higher education, and support for Maine’s creative economy all promote
these new kinds of work opportunities for Maine residents.”
“Maine is headed in the right
direction for the 21st century,” stated Governor Baldacci.
Freeman noted other positive economic
indicators in addition to the robust job rate:
• Most recently Maine’s gross state
product grew by over 3 percent, which in November ranked Maine 19th among the 50 states.
• Personal income is forecasted to grow
by 5 percent in 2005 and 2006. Maine’s strategies for growth are attracting
attention.
The Organization for Economic Opportunity and
Development recently selected Maine as one of the sites for a major international study
examining the links between economic and workforce development.
“I’m proud to have Maine selected to
take part in this study,” said Governor Baldacci. “As a leader in New England,
Maine can use this opportunity to be a model for strong economic development for the rest
of the world.”
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