Sen. Millett submits bill to tackle Maine’s workforce and higher education challenges

Sen. Rebecca Millett (D-Cape Elizabeth) has submitted legislation to create a task force in Maine to set college attainment and degree completion goals, review and report progress annually and provide guidance on ways to meet the goals.

“Right now Maine lags behind neighboring states in college attainment and completion,” said Sen. Millett. “Most of tomorrow’s good-paying jobs will require at least some college education – I want to make sure that Maine’s workforce is ready to fill those jobs.”

The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce estimates that 65% of U.S. jobs by 2020 will require some form of post-secondary education. For Maine’s working population age 25 – 64, college attainment is 39.9% compared to 46.7% in New Hampshire, 45.5% in Vermont and 51.5% in Massachusetts.

“Mainers have always worked hard and if we can make sure Maine stays moving forward on this effort, we will have the workforce we need to be attractive to businesses,” said Sen. Millett.