Mainebiz

V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 J U LY 2 2 , 2 0 1 9 From the Editor T he other day I was at my favorite newsstand in Portland. e clerk is a colorful guy, always with an opinion about the Bruins, Sox or Patriots. Topic of the day was the labor shortage. He had a minor leak in the coolant system of his truck. Stopped at VIP Auto to see if they could fix it — simple job, he tells them, replac- ing a small valve and tightening the clamps, five minutes tops. ey tell him, "We're booked up through the end of the day." "It's a 5-minute job," he tells them. Maybe he could fix it himself, it's suggested. "Sure," he says, "Can I borrow a wrench or a pair of pliers?" You're going to have to pay for those, he's told. "Can you believe that?" he says to me, exasperated. "Hey," I say, "at's why they call it VIP, not DIY." at was the end of that conversation, but not the end of the conversation on the labor shortage. I don't know if that's even the situation at VIP, but you see signs of the labor shortage every- where, from the gas station on Route 1 in Falmouth that elimi- nated its Sunday hours, citing a lack of work- ers, to the restaurant in Port Clyde that took over an hour to serve dinner to construction projects that are being delayed because contractors can't find skilled workers. ere's data showing that wages are increasing, and Maine is seeing its seasonal influx of summer workers. But the need for workers persists in Maine, where the population is static and getting older. In the July 9 edition of the Mainebiz Daily Report, the "By the Numbers" section appears to have incorrectly stated that Maine produces 90% of the country's toothpicks. The exact percentage is unclear, but feedback from industry experts in the state suggests the level is far less. Correction Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get Maine's business news daily at mainebiz.biz and on Twitter (@Mainebiz). Below is our top content for the weeks between July 1 – 15. 1. Brady's Portland waterfront hotel gets Planning Board nod 2. Location key in couple's new Portland Back Cove veterinary practice 3. Historic Kennebunk train depot hits the market 4. IDEXX CEO takes medical leave after bike accident 5. Sterling Rope acquired by N.C.-based company 6. Along the Kennebec, developers and residents are returning to the river 7. Logistics center opens in Saco, plans to hire 20 8. Gorham Savings to leave Kennebunk, targets September opening in Yarmouth 9. Bob Dylan, Burundi drummers and Coffee By Design at 25 10. How Thomas College grooms students for career success R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y O F FAT H O M C O S. 1 Be selective. BE SHUR. bernsteinshur.com When you need a partner who knows the law —and your industry. Thoughts on the labor shortage That's why they call it VIP, not DIY

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