Squidworth89 t1_j2attfh wrote on December 30, 2022 at 10:02 PM

Reply to comment by PinkLemonade2 in Maine residents - what do you find positive and negative about your state's low population density? by LockedOutOfElfland

There’s already plenty jobs around… hence Maine already has a shortage of workers… doesn’t mean wages are worth what they’re offering though… Maine isn’t a cheap state to live in, already has a shortage of workers, but somehow has low pay.

PinkLemonade2 t1_j2avhyf wrote on December 30, 2022 at 10:14 PM

I suppose it's dependant on the industry.

But when I see the employment opportunities available, it does make me question what's going on.

Want to jump that pay hurdle? Get trained, one way or another. 6 months training could net a huge jump in salary, in many industries. And alot of training opportunities are one way or another aided by either the industry or a government entity. Because they need people!

I feel like the jobs are there, the money is there, the demand is there, and the workers are arguably there to a certain extent - it's just a matter of linking up all parties in need.

And the cost to live in Maine is all relative. I hear about how it's "not cheap", but let's be honest- financially, it's much more straightforward, and I think the end game is very financially viable. You don't realize the added everyday costs in an urban area, that may present cheaper. Until you're hit with daily $13 charges to cross a bridge....

lucidlilacdream t1_j2djkjq wrote on December 31, 2022 at 1:30 PM

This is all very optimistic, but the professional jobs here do not pay enough compared to the COL. A great example is nursing. Maine is in desperate need of nurses, but even Vermont which has the same COL treats and pays the nurses better.

I worked for an employer here that’s generally considered a good one, in a professional job, and the pay was just not enough. They also had a very old school mentality about remote days and WFH, and just poor boundaries between work and life. Unfortunately, there are better opportunities for young professionals outside of Maine. The reason we live here is because my spouse works remote and I am finishing my masters. Unless I can find remote work once I finish my degree, I don’t know if we’ll stay in Maine because there are so many career opportunities outside of Maine with better pay, benefits, time off, and policies.

There are many things to love about Maine. The professional opportunities, are unfortunately, not one of them. Maybe this will change as employers get desperate.