Maine Proposes to Address Worker Shortage with Growing Immigrant Communities

The proposed bill, due for a public hearing on January 30, aims to integrate immigrants into the workforce by providing professional accreditation and licenses.

• Maine Governor Janet Mills and state lawmaker Deqa Dhalac, who immigrated from Somalia, have proposed a bill to address the state's worker shortage by leveraging the growing immigrant communities.
• The bill proposes the creation of the Office of New Americans, which would provide pathways for immigrant employees to obtain professional accreditation and licenses, and engage with businesses to increase employment, retention, and advancement of immigrant employees.
• Maine, traditionally having one of the smallest immigrant populations in the U.S., has seen a gradual increase in its immigrant population, particularly from Somalia and other African countries, with the percentage of foreign-born residents increasing by about a percentage point between 2000 to 2022.
• The bill is due for a public hearing on January 30.
• At least 18 other states have offices or staff focused on integrating immigrants into the workforce.

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