Survey launched on working remotely in Maine

Courtesy / Katie Shorey, Live + Work in Maine Access to the outdoors is one of the benefits touted by Live + Work in Maine in its messaging about relocating to the Pine Tree State.

Write a Comment

By Renee Cordes

Are you working remotely in Maine?

If so, Live + Work in Maine, a nonprofit devoted to increasing awareness about career opportunities in the Pine Tree State, wants to hear from you in a new online survey.

The poll aims to find out more about people who may be working from home temporarily during the pandemic, as well as those who have been working remotely for years.

"As people all over the world are given the option to work from anywhere, we believe Maine has a great case to make for why they should bring their careers, income, families, and cultural diversity here to Vacationland," said Nate Wildes, the organization's executive.

Katie Shorey, director of engagement for the group, added, "Maine employers still need to recruit and retain talent for a wide variety of jobs. Adding in remote workers is one other talent attraction angle. And when these individuals are looking for a new career, and as our employers continue to grow (or new companies relocate to our state), there will be a larger talent pool to draw from."

The goal is to use the survey results to continue to market and position Maine as an ideal place to live and work for reasons including quality of life, access to the outdoors and work-life balance. The research comes as a growing number of large employers nationwide opt for extended or even permanent remote operations led by Twitter and other large tech companies.

The Live + Work in Maine survey can be filled out here.

Shorey told Mainebiz there is no set deadline for responses, but the ideal would be to get more than 500 so there is a good source of data and anecdotes. "We're getting there," she said Tuesday.

After taking stock of the remote work situation in Maine, Live + Work in Maine plans to share its findings with the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and media outlets and is collaborating with groups including Maine Accelerates Growth, the Coworking Cohort, and Ryan Wallace, director of the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research at University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service.

Live + Work in Maine is also organizing information and resources about remote working on its website to direct people and families with an interest in relocating here to the next steps.