AUGUSTA — This week, Commissioners Heather Johnson and Laura Fortman participated in a series of events demonstrating some of the ways Maine is advancing the goals of girls interested in the construction industry and connecting women with training and employment opportunities in the field. With Maine having approximately two jobs for every unemployed person and an aging workforce, employers are looking across Maine’s population for skilled talent to fill critical positions in today’s tight labor market – including by investing in communities traditionally underrepresented in certain industries.

On Tuesday, August 13, Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, visited Girls Build the Future at Sargent Construction in Orono. Girls Build the Future is a free camp for girls in grades 6-8 sponsored by the State of Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. The civil engineering summer camp offers the opportunity to participate in hands-on design challenges, meet real engineers and visit engineering workplaces to see what it would really be like to work as a civil engineer.

“Our workforce is very diverse and there is a place in it for every Maine youth,” said Heather Johnson, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, in a news release. “We want to break down barriers so young people can see what their future could look like and find their way here.”

“Young girls should know, first of all, that they can do anything. And second of all, they can do anything they want here in Maine,” said Kate Dickerson, executive director of the Maine Discovery Museum. “So if they want to do civil engineering, they can do it here. If they want to support people who do civil engineering, or if they want to do design work, they can do it here. There’s nothing they can do that they can’t do in Maine.”

The Sargent Corporation hosted the campers last week.

“Women have been severely underrepresented in construction for a long time, so they bring a different perspective,” said Peter Parizo, director of workforce development at Sargent. “Even early in their careers, they bring the things we’re seeing this week: innovation and ideas. When we moved into this space two years ago, we envisioned it as a place of learning, development and outreach, and it’s great to have them here.”

On Thursday, August 15, Secretary of Labor Laura Fortman spoke at the 2024 Hire-A-Vet Campaign kickoff ceremony at the Augusta Civic Center, attended by approximately 160 employers. While campaign events are open to all job seekers, this year’s campaign will have a special focus on connecting female veterans and military family members with careers in the skilled trades. The campaign will continue with a series of statewide events throughout the fall.

“Maine’s construction industry has many job openings, but only 15 percent of those employed there are women. At the same time, female veterans bring important skills such as handling complex tasks, understanding safety protocols, solid communication and teamwork – all skills needed in the construction industry,” said Labor Secretary Laura Fortman. “The Department’s Career Center team is here to connect them with opportunities in a variety of fields.”

Commissioner Fortman also spoke Thursday at the graduation ceremony for the Union Construction Academy of Maine’s first Women in the Trades program, a pre-apprenticeship program designed specifically for women interested in the trades. The graduation ceremony was held at IBEW Building 1253 in Newport.

This first class of the program consisted of nine graduates from diverse backgrounds. During the four-week program, the pre-apprentices learned and earned certifications in OSHA 10 (basic safety training), first aid/CPR/AED, flagging, scaffolding (user), confined space entry, asbestos awareness, and hazardous waste handling. The Women in the Trades pre-apprenticeship program prepares women for high-quality careers in union trades that pay good wages and excellent benefits. Union apprentices can earn wages and benefits while developing valuable skills through hands-on training and classroom instruction.

“With historic state infrastructure investments coming to Maine, it is more important than ever to work toward gender parity in the construction and skilled trades,” said Elinor Higgins, executive director of the Maine Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. “This important work opens opportunities for women to pursue lucrative and rewarding careers in the skilled trades, helps ensure women can benefit from these state investments, and brings women to the table to shape Maine’s future.”

“We are so proud of the nine pre-apprentices who have completed our Union Construction Academy Women in the Trades program,” said Sam Boss, apprenticeship and equity director for the Maine AFL-CIO. “In our three weeks of intensive training, they earned five certificates and developed practical skills in several different trades. The experiences they gained have helped them make decisions about the career paths they want to pursue while giving them the confidence to succeed once they begin a registered apprenticeship with the Maine Building and Construction Trades Unions.”

Women currently make up 15 percent of the construction industry in Maine, but only 11 percent nationally. On May 6, Governor Mills signed an Executive Order to improve the recruitment, training and retention of women in Maine’s construction industry. The Executive Order directs several state agencies to take a series of actions to better measure the shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry, connect women with job opportunities in the industry, and apply for state and federal funding to encourage the hiring of women.

Maine CareerCenters and the Maine Department of Labor are equal opportunity providers.
Aids and services are available for people with disabilities upon request.