Workforce Pathways
About Us
We champion critical workforce development and experiential learning initiatives across Maine.Â
What We Do
We view workforce development as a continuum, one with multiple pathways, each with their own on-ramps and off-ramps. Our role is to support employers, education partners, students, and job seekers in identifying and pursuing the programs that best align with their goals. By championing high-quality experiential learning, we work to ensure that all learners are equipped to succeed in Maine’s workforce.
We do this through three programs: paid summer internships for college students through Maine Career Catalyst, and registered apprenticeships and certified pre-apprenticeships in partnership with the Maine Department of Labor, for which we serve as an Intermediary Sponsor.
All three models provide learners with real-world, work-based learning that builds skills, strengthens career readiness, and connects education to future employment. We champion these programs because we know there is no single path to success in Maine. Every learner deserves the knowledge and guidance to make informed, empowered decisions about the future that is right for them.
Internships
Internships are short-term, project-based work experiences that let students explore a career interest and build foundational workplace skills. They may be paid, unpaid, or completed for academic credit, and they focus on exposure and experience rather than earning a credential.
Pre-Apprenticeships
Pre-apprenticeships are structured training experiences that prepare learners for entry into a registered apprenticeship. They build the foundational skills and career readiness needed to become competitive for acceptance, often in high-growth, high-demand industries.
Registered Apprenticeships
Registered Apprenticeships (RAs) are formal, nationally recognized programs that combine paid, on-the-job learning with related classroom instruction. Apprentices are paid from day one and finish with a nationally recognized credential and a direct path to family-sustaining wages and long-term career advancement.
| Feature | Internship | Pre-Apprenticeship |
Registered Apprenticeship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Career exploration; real-world context for classroom training | Career exploration; preparation for apprenticeship or entry-level employment | Skilled career training through stable, paid employment and relevant learning and credentialing |
| Pay | Sometimes | Sometimes | Always |
| Duration | Short-term (seasonal or academic calendar) | Short-term (1 week to 9 months) | Long-term (1–4 years) |
| Credential | No | Sometimes | Yes, nationally recognized |
| Structure | Flexible; employer-specific | Structured curriculum; state-approved | Highly structured OJT and classroom curriculum; state-approved |
| Employer Role | Host site | Partner in training pipeline | Employer of record |
Workforce Pathways Leadership
Hannah Greene
Manager of Workforce Partnerships
Meg Krieger
Workforce Development Specialist
NEWS AND UPDATES
Workforce Issues at the Forefront
It’s great to connect with other organizations doing the critical work of building workforce! Manager of Workforce Partnerships …
Workforce Issues at the Forefront
It’s great to connect with other organizations doing the critical work of building workforce! Manager of Workforce Partnerships …
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