Maine Officials Propose Using Migrants To Solve Labor Shortage

Maine officials recently unveiled a proposal to tackle the state’s labor shortage by calling on migrants to join the workforce.

Maine has one of the smallest immigrant populations in the U.S., which accounts for just 4% of the state’s residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

From 2000-2022, The Pine Tree State’s migrant population has slightly increased as thousands of individuals from Somalia and other parts of Africa have moved to cities in Maine, such as Portland and Lewiston.

State Rep. Deqa Dhalac (D), the first Somalian-born mayor in the U.S. in 2021, recently proposed legislation alongside Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) to address shortages in the state’s workforce and industries, such as healthcare, infrastructure, and education.

“Improving how Maine introduces and integrates New Americans into its communities and economy is viewed as one key strategy to address the state’s workforce needs, as attracting and retaining new workers is a priority for Maine’s economic future,” Dhalac and Mills said in a press release.

Under Dhalac’s bill, the Office of New Americans would provide pathways for migrants in the state to obtain licenses to join the workforce. The legislation would also be responsible for “engaging with businesses to increase employment, retention, and advancement of immigrant employees.”

In a statement, Mills emphasized the need for workers in Maine, adding that “New Americans” could play a big role in solving the state’s workforce shortage.

“Everywhere you look across Maine, there are help wanted signs. We need workers, and New Americans, who want to support themselves and their families, can be one important part of that solution. My Administration will do what we can to ensure that every person can contribute to our economy and successfully enter and stay in our workforce,” Mills said.

“As we strengthen our economy by attracting talented people to work in Maine, may this Office help us fully harness the contributions of New Americans who have chosen to make our state their home,” she added.

The bill will be debated in Maine’s legislature on Jan. 30, 2024, according to Newsmax.

Dhalac and Mill’s proposal comes as 18 states across America have turned their efforts to recruiting immigrants in their respective workforces. In New England, for example, officials are dealing with housing shortages while trying to facilitate increasing numbers of immigrants arriving in the Northeast.