With several colleges and trade schools throughout Central Maine, FirstPark offers access to an educated, skilled, and dedicated workforce. Add Maine’s strong work ethic and more than 241,000 workers within a 60-minute commute, and businesses of any size can tap into a deep and reliable talent pool. Colleges in Kennebec County alone award more than 1,995 degrees each year, creating a steady pipeline of new talent.
Labor Pool
FirstPark draws from the combined labor forces of Kennebec and Somerset counties, with easy access to workers from neighboring Androscoggin, Franklin, Sagadahoc, Cumberland, and Waldo counties as well.
Kennebec County — home to FirstPark, Waterville, Augusta, and the region’s largest employers — has a civilian labor force of approximately 61,000. Somerset County adds a further 22,000. Maine’s unemployment rate has remained well below the national average for most of the past 17 years, reflecting a stable and engaged workforce.
For the most current county-level labor force and unemployment data, visit the Maine CWRI county estimates page.
Workforce Training Resources
Maine offers a strong set of workforce training programs for businesses that locate and hire here, including free training through Maine Quality Centers, reimbursement programs through Employment Tax Increment Financing (ETIF), and the Maine Workforce Development Compact. For details on all available programs, see the Incentives & Financing page.
College Pipeline
The Mid-Maine region offers an impressive concentration of higher education institutions for a community of its size. Colby College and Thomas College are both located in nearby Waterville, just minutes from FirstPark, while Kennebec Valley Community College provides a strong pipeline of technically trained graduates. University of Maine System campuses throughout the region add even greater depth to the area’s talent and training resources.
For a full listing of colleges and universities within commuting distance of FirstPark, see the Colleges & Universities page.
Educational Attainment
Maine’s workforce is well-educated. According to the 2022 American Community Survey, 36.1% of Maine adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher — slightly above the national average of 35.6%. Maine also outperforms the national average in associate’s degrees (10.7% vs. 8.8%) and high school completion (30.2% vs. 26.1%).
For detailed educational attainment data by county and occupation, see the U.S. Census Bureau ACS data for Maine.
For detailed educational attainment data by county, the Census Reporter profile for Kennebec County provides an interactive breakdown, and the CWRI Workforce Report includes statewide educational attainment context alongside labor market data.