Mainebiz

S P R I N G 2 0 2 1 / W O R K F O R M E 5 S p o n s o r L e t t e r COVID-19's impact on jobs and employment has been a seesaw. Unemployment soared when hospitality and other "non-es- sential" businesses were closed. But when companies began to reopen, the demand for work- ers seemed even greater than before the pandemic. It was a full-blown hiring crunch. It's been widely reported that Maine's hotels, restaurants and casinos have been offering high- er pay and incentives like hiring bonuses to attract employees. But the need for skilled em- ployees extends well beyond the hospitality industry. As this issue of Work for ME illustrates, many jobs require specific skills, training or ex- perience. But the jobs are out there. The training programs are out there. Our hope is that this issue will help connect you, the job seeker and career builder, with the companies that are on the hunt for good employees. "I wasn't sure if people would still go out to eat or be willing to comply with the new set of rules and guidelines we were responsi- ble for following/enforcing," says a long-time brewery employee who has a bachelor's degree in communications from the Uni- versity of Southern Maine. "Not only are people still going out to eat but they are just as happy to see us as we are to see them." In this issue, we look at six dif- ferent industries: construction and the trades, health care, finan- cial services, hospitality and retail, manufacturing and technology. We also talk to experts in the field about topics ranging from how to write an effective cover letter to how to network. For employers, there's guidance from one of Maine's leading DEI experts on how to diversify your workforce. — Peter Van Allen Mainebiz Editor Our hope is that this issue will help connect you with the employers in Maine. Mainebiz F I L E P H O T O Peter Van Allen

• Cover