Inequality and Workforce Development in Maine in the Post-COVID-19 Environment

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has stricken American workers deeply, causing widespread layoffs and accelerating the longer-term disappearance of jobs available to workers with limited skills and education. As a result, its impact has exacerbated inequalities of income and opportunity. A long-term strategy for postpandemic economic development in Maine will require building bridges from existing skill sets to jobs offering greater employment opportunity and security. Maine can take advantage of the COVID-19 crisis to restructure the institutional environment in ways that will align the incentives of the public and private sectors and will achieve these goals.