Manufacturing in Maine dropped almost 8,000 jobs from 2000 to 2006, but sometimes a single set of numbers --such as layoff totals --don't tell the whole story.

In these years, paper manufacturing dropped about 2,600 jobs from 2002 to 2006, and semiconductor and electronics manufacturing lost about 800 positions.

But during the same period, the average weekly wage in manufacturing rose from $620.45 to $768.80.

"Some of the story that's waiting to unfold is when we take a more detailed look at the fabricated metals industry," said John Dorrer, head of Labor Market Information Services at the Maine Department of Labor. "Fabricated metals is a sector that's actually showing a slight reversal."

There were 4,781 jobs in the sector in 2002, and 4,877 in 2006 -- an increase of 96 positions. The average weekly wage increased from $706 to $791.

The increase would have been higher, but a number of companies around the state are having a tough time filling positions. One company is looking for 30 people with the skills it needs, said Lisa Martin, executive director of the Manufacturers Association of Maine.

"As we sit now, companies are hugely busy," said Martin. "They are doing very well, they do continue to struggle with finding a skilled work force."

Dorrer said the fab metal sector has an important productivity element to it.

"Machinists in front of a lathe, shaping a piece of metal, is an image of the past," said Dorrer. "Increasingly, what you have is someone there programming a computer to shape a piece of metal to a thousands of an inch.

"It's a different kind of environment from even what it was 10 years ago."

Dorrer said the sector faces a serious challenge. Its work force is largely made up of men over the age of 50, heading toward retirement. Companies already having a hard time filling open positions are going to have even more difficulties.

"If we wanted to sort of reverse this problem of Maine's per capita income lagging, we can't afford to leave these sorts of high-paying (jobs) vacant," said Dorrer.

He suggested that the state needs to craft a new message about manufacturing jobs and what opportunities the sector holds for job seekers.

"One would think you can't earn a good income in blue-collar manufacturing. In effect what the data shows is wages are going up, what's offered in that sector is very competitive to those with a college education," said Dorrer. "Are you better going to work in that sector than holding out for a white collar job? Yes, you are."

Martin said she would like to see the state put more investment in worker training and efforts to align the state's education system with workplace needs.

Staff Writer Matt Wickenheiser can be contacted at 791-6316 or at:

mwickenheiser@pressherald.com