What is the Maine Career Exploration Program?

What is the Maine Career Exploration Program? We get asked this a lot so let's start at the beginning. Maine's highly skilled older employees are starting to retire, and our state needs to add 75,000 new workers by 2030 to keep our economy strong. How do you attract young people to the many career pathways that desperately need them? Well, you don't know what you like unless you try it, right? The solution to these problems is career exploration for Maine's youth.

The Maine Career Exploration program is a $25 million initiative that is part of the Governor’s Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan approved by the Legislature and the program is led by the Department of Economic and Community Development in partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, and the Governor’s Children Cabinet. Maine Career Exploration's original goal was to connect 6,000 young people in Maine to future career opportunities by funding paid work experiences with employers across the state.  We accomplished that in 2024 with 6,776 work experiences completed and now, in 2025, we want to add at least 3,000 more!Maine Career Exploration introduces thousands of Maine students to future employment options and prepares them to succeed in careers right here in Maine, strengthening our workforce over the long term and supporting our business communities. 

Career exploration can be many things! It is not a one-size-fits-all program. Businesses have hosted a wide variety of work experiences like Job Shadows, Internships, Apprenticeships, Independent Study, Community Service and Work-based Learning. Those white-water rafters in the photo? Career Exploration!

Students can try out an industry like construction and then see what they like (or don't) about the tourism and hospitality industry. Many schools offer Extended Learning Opportunities and some work experience can earn school credits. 

Are you an Employer or Organization looking to connect young people in Maine to opportunities at your workplace?

We are looking for Maine businesses wanting to be involved with Maine Career Exploration! We can pay up to 75 hours for a student’s work experience with your company – to learn more, simply fill out the Employer Onboarding Survey.