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Workforce board presents Penobscot County labor-market snapshot, highlights training priorities
Summary
Galen Williamson of the Northeastern Workforce Development Board told commissioners Penobscot County’s labor force is about 77,000 with a 60% participation rate, a 3.3% unemployment rate, a 13.5% poverty rate, and a low disconnected-youth rate (1.3%). He urged focus on high-wage, benefit-providing jobs and training partnerships.
Galen Williamson, executive director with the Northeastern Workforce Development Board, told the Penobscot County Commission on Jan. 28 that county labor-market data show modest gains but persistent gaps.
"Our civilian labor force in Penobscot County is about 77,000," Williamson said, citing JobsEQ figures. He said workforce participation in the county is roughly 60%, slightly below the state average, and that the poverty rate stands at 13.5%. Williamson said about 15% of households receive public benefits such as SNAP.
Williamson…
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