--- title: MCE’s Evaluation Report – A Quick Look! description: Maine small businesses get 75 hours of paid intern help at no cost. Learn how the Maine Career Exploration Program connects you with local talent. image: https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hubfs/White%20Black%20Yellow%20Simple%20Modern%20Effective%20Ways%20to%20Inspire%20Your%20Team%20Linkedin%20Carousel.png --- [![Maine_Career_Exploration_4C-01-1](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hubfs/Maine_Career_Exploration_4C-01-1.png)](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/mcep-landing-page) ![menu](https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/7479797/menu.png) ![close_24px](https://7479797.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7479797/close_24px.svg) [Contact Us](https://share.hsforms.com/1BOaqf42rTIumwzVXUeICAQnthah) [workforce development](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/tag/workforce-development) [careers](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/tag/careers) [extended learning opportunity](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/tag/extended-learning-opportunity) [maine](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/tag/maine) # MCE’s Evaluation Report – A Quick Look! [Anna McDermott](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/author/anna-mcdermott) 16 June, 2025 ![MCE Final Report](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hubfs/White%20Black%20Yellow%20Simple%20Modern%20Effective%20Ways%20to%20Inspire%20Your%20Team%20Linkedin%20Carousel.png) The Maine Career Exploration Final Evaluation Report was recently released and it shows a wonderful, [in-depth look](https://www.maine.gov/doe/sites/maine.gov.doe/files/inline-files/Extended%20Learning%20-%20Maine%20Career%20Exploration%20Final%20Evaluation%20Report%20-%203.24.2025.pdf) at the successes and challenges of MCE. In this age of bite-sized news and 30-second video clips, we thought we’d share a quick look at some of the highlights in a Cliff Note version! *Keep in mind: this report was scheduled at the beginning of the program, which was planned to last only two years, but we have been able to keep going into our third year. The program continues to fund career exploration!* **By March of 2025, 6,776 young people engaged in the program - exceeding our goal!** - **2,648 paid work experiences in Year 1** – spanning all 16 Maine counties - **3418 paid work experiences in Year 2** - **65% of participants**, on average, were identified each semester as historically underserved youth - **Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) Expansion** We expanded eight ELO programs and add *twenty-two new ELO programs* at high schools, colleges, and community-based organizations across the state. - ELOs provided 1,833 total paid work experiences - Of these, 1,350 paid work experiences provided school credit - Overall, students earned 2,098.5 credits through ELO participation **Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG):** - **3,935 Maine Career Exploration Badges** were earned by Maine students who completed the experience **Children’s Cabinet Community-Based Organizations (CBO) Numbers:** - 5 nonprofits engaged **212 youth in job-readiness training**; 70 of them moved on to paid placements **Student/Participant Wins:** **Social-emotional growth** – participants cited stronger confidence, communication, and self-advocacy **Early hiring pipeline** – paid experiences led to job offers for **41 % of paid participants**, with 70 % of those offers accepted, far out-pacing unpaid placements **Employer Wins:** - **Workforce pipeline** – 71 % of surveyed hosts said the program attracted talent to their industry; 65 % gained insight into the next-generation skillset; 56 % felt it helped ease immediate workforce shortages.  - **Low-risk onboarding** – state-covered wages, workers’ comp, and Manpower Maine payroll support lowered hiring barriers, letting firms “test-drive” young talent If you want to learn more, be sure to check out the [full report!](https://www.maine.gov/doe/sites/maine.gov.doe/files/inline-files/Extended%20Learning%20-%20Maine%20Career%20Exploration%20Final%20Evaluation%20Report%20-%203.24.2025.pdf) Previous Post ###### [One Student, 75 Paid Hours: A Small-Business Guide to Hosting Maine’s Future Workforce](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/one-student-75-paid-hours-a-small-business-guide-to-hosting-maines-future-workforce) Next Post ###### [Building Confidence Through Real-World Experience: A Visit to Atlas Patel, Inc.](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/building-confidence-through-real-world-experience-a-visit-to-atlas-patel-inc) ### Similar Blog Posts [![](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20vibrant%20and%20welcoming%20small%20gift%20shop%20in%20Maine%20bustling%20with%20activity%20In%20the%20foreground%20a%20young%20female%20around%2018%20years%20old%20is%20engaged%20in%20a%20handson%20task%20working%20alongside%20a%20friendly%20older%20business%20owner%20who%20is%20providing%20guidance%20Th-1.jpeg?width=352&name=The%20image%20depicts%20a%20vibrant%20and%20welcoming%20small%20gift%20shop%20in%20Maine%20bustling%20with%20activity%20In%20the%20foreground%20a%20young%20female%20around%2018%20years%20old%20is%20engaged%20in%20a%20handson%20task%20working%20alongside%20a%20friendly%20older%20business%20owner%20who%20is%20providing%20guidance%20Th-1.jpeg)](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/one-student-75-paid-hours-a-small-business-guide-to-hosting-maines-future-workforce) #### [One Student, 75 Paid Hours: A Small-Business Guide to Hosting Maine’s Future Workforce](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/one-student-75-paid-hours-a-small-business-guide-to-hosting-maines-future-workforce) #### [How Career Exploration Can Help Guide Young People in their Post-Secondary Pathways](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/how-the-maine-career-exploration-program-is-boosting-youth-workforce-participation-0) [![](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(6)-1.png?width=352&name=Untitled%20design%20(6)-1.png)](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/how-the-maine-career-exploration-program-is-boosting-youth-workforce-participation) #### [How the Maine Career Exploration Program is Boosting Youth Workforce Participation](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/how-the-maine-career-exploration-program-is-boosting-youth-workforce-participation) [![Maine_Career_Exploration_4C-01-1](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hubfs/Maine_Career_Exploration_4C-01-1.png)](https://www.hubspot.com/) Growing our workforce. 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