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W O R K F O R M E / S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 28 programs for a variety of health occupations. UMaine, for ex- ample, is working to double its nursing enrollment before 2025, when Maine is expected to face a shortage of 2,700 nurses. And that prediction was made before anyone had even heard of COVID-19. The shortage of nurses and other health care workers is part of a larger trend, says Maine- Health CEO Bill Caron. Last winter, he talked with Mainebiz about his predictions for 2020 and the future of health care in general. Caron pointed to the state's demographics, and explained why they make the need for health care employees so acute here. Maine is already home to the oldest population in the country, and Mainers on average are get- ting even older. That means a smaller pool of workers to fill jobs in all industries, including health care. But aging in the state has another impact, unique to health care: a growing need for services. The double whammy of in- creasing demand for health care and a shrinking supply of people to provide it may soon reach a critical phase, Caron says. "We're almost in the middle of the two trends converging." Back at Northern Light, Bolin is optimistic that other unique attributes of Maine will help the state succeed in attracting health care talent, despite the pandemic. "We are already seeing height- ened interest in Maine's rural environment from those apply- ing for positions nationally," he says. "We are a great place to live, work and play, and we are a great place to have a successful career. "Now more than ever, the rural nature of our state is look- ing better and better to many. We think that will help us in the long run." n MaineSpark's Adult Promise team is excited to announce a statewide network of Navigators—professional advisors and counselors— who are standing by to offer free guidance to adult learners ready to go back to school or start a new program. MaineSpark has a goal: by 2025, 60% of Mainers will hold education and workforce credentials that position Maine and its families for success. To learn more about getting involved, go to mainespark.me/ for-organizations or put your employees in touch with a Navigator at mainespark.me/connect. « C O N T I N U E D F R O M P R E V I O U S PA G E The University of Maine at Augusta Rockland Center will use an $85,000 gift to expand its teaching resources for nursing and lab technology students. H e a l t h C a r e staffing needs have suddenly spiked, there's lag time before new workers are ready to fill the vacancies. Bolin says, "Many of the positions that are in the highest demand require ad- vanced training, so people tran- sitioning to those professions won't enter the workforce until after they complete their train- ing, such as nursing school." In response, the Maine Com- munity College System, the Uni- versity of Maine System, and other educational institutions are accelerating their training P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A I N E

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