It used to be a high school diploma was all you needed to get a good job in Maine, sometimes not even that.

Just ask generations of mill workers.

But as the economy has dropped off in the last couple of years, the requirements for that "good job" have increased.

So what does that means for many of Maine's unemployed? Simply put - more schooling.

A number of laid off workers are learning that trade programs or college courses are the only way they can get off the unemployment rolls - a fact that's forcing job seekers to step back into the classroom 20, 30, even 40 years after they first left.


Marietta Marble of St. Albans has always loved to cook. But she never thought she'd do it for a living.

Marble is working on an associates degree in culinary arts at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor.

This after losing her job at San Antonio Shoe in Pittsfield at the age of 58.

"I worked there at the factory for 24 years and it was devastating when I lost that job. I really, at that point, didn't even know where to begin."

A few months later, Marble began, again, as a student - filled with hope and doubt as she walked back into a classroom.

"Absolutely scary, absolutely scary, it was. And I didn't know how good I could do going back to college because I'd been out of school for forty years."

Liz Russell, EMCC Director of Admissions, says Marble is not alone.

"Because there aren't a lot of jobs out there right now, they view this as the ideal time to re-educate, to re-tool, to get ready for a new career."

The shift in the economy has turned into a steady enrollment increase at EMCC.

In the last five years, it's gone up 16-percent, jumping more than 10-percent in the last year alone.


Among those new students, 48-year-old Jay Groesbeck of Hancock.

He lost his job as a boat builder for Morris Yachts more than a-year-and-a-half ago.

"Just because you're laid off doesn't mean it's a bad thing. It's actually a good thing. It's opened a lot of doors."

Unemployment gave Groesbeck the chance to pursue his dream to work in healthcare. Now he's studying to be a nurse.

"My first class was with people that were my daughter's friends and it was different. It was a whole paradigm shift because I'm trying to relate to these people that don't relate to me, except for elevator music man is what they call me."

Groesbeck says working on a computer also took a lot of getting used to. Marble agrees.


"Everything's done on computers today and I think that's one of the biggest setbacks for anybody my age trying to go back to school today."

But the time and the work has been worth it. Marble's on track to graduate in the spring with a job offer already on the table. And Groesbeck says he's getting the chance to give back and help people in ways he never could building boats.

Time in the classroom has also given them new confidence.

"Never ever ever give up. Realize it's your life and there's only one go around so make it what it should be."

And strong advice for other out-of-work Mainers.

"Stop thinking that you can't do it. Get yourself together, move forward and don't let that eat you up. If I can do it, I know they can."

All the students we talked to credit support from their family and especially from their instructors and other staff to help them make the transition back to a school a successful one.

Because more Mainers are turning to re-training, in-demand classes at EMCC like refrigeration, air conditioning and cooling; welding and diesel, truck and heavy equipment are filling up at rates never seen before - and the college is trying to adjust to help as many students as possible.

But the first place any out of work person should go is your local career center, such as the TriCounty CareerCenter in Bangor.

You can contact the CareerCenter at 1-888-828-0568 or go on-line to www.tricountylwib.org

For more information about Eastern Maine Community College, call (207) 974-4600 or go to www.emcc.edu

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