In October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we reflect on both our progress and the work still ahead here in Maine. According to the Maine Department of Labor, our state continues to face more than 40,000 open positions. At the same time, thousands of capable Mainers with disabilities remain unemployed or underemployed.

As someone who serves on Maine’s Joint Committee on Labor and a workforce development professional, I see firsthand how this untapped workforce can help fill critical gaps across our economy. Mainers with disabilities bring dedication, skill and resilience, qualities every employer needs. When we make hiring practices more inclusive and provide reasonable accommodations, we strengthen not just workplaces but entire communities.

This is not charity; it is common sense. Connecting people who want to work with employers who need reliable help is how we grow Maine’s economy and uphold our shared values of fairness and opportunity.

I encourage all Maine employers to take a closer look at this talented, overlooked segment of our workforce. The potential is here; we just need to open the door.

Marshall Archer
Saco