Indicator: 39 - Businesses' Satisfaction Wth Colleges/Universities

Why This Is Important

Some Mainers are concerned that many good, quality jobs are being filled by people recruited from out-of-state colleges and universities, which is expensive and sometimes impractical for employers. Long-term economic growth will be facilitated by having responsive, effective colleges and universities in Maine..

Where We Stand

In 2001, 73% of surveyed Maine businesses rated Maine’s colleges and universities as “good,” “very good,” or “excellent” at meeting the continuous education needs of their employees. This continues a slight increase evident since 1998.

Data Sources and Context

Data for this indicator comes from the Maine Development Foundation’s Annual Survey of Maine Businesses in 2000 and 2001, both of which were conducted by Market Decisions, Inc. In 2000, surveys were mailed to 2,115 firms in Maine, and 568 (27%) responded; 663 of the 2,000 firms surveyed in 2001 (34%) answered. The sample of businesses was drawn so that it included both manufacturing and non-manufacturing firms, as well as small-, medium- and large-sized businesses. The return rate in both years is subject to self-selection, which introduces a non-determinable, non-response bias in the data.

Survey results are available on-line at http://mdf.org.

The Survey was not conducted in 2002; the Foundation intends to administer the next Survey in time for results to be included in the Maine Economic Growth Council’s publication of Measures of Growth 2004.