Krysta West

RUMFORD, Maine — Maine’s vast forests have driven the state’s economy for centuries. It’s an industry that has faced change and challenges. Right now, one of those obstacles is reaching a critical point: finding young employees to replace retiring workers. …Inside ND Paper in Rumford, Ellie Hamann navigates her workday around towering rolls of massive paper shipments. …”I’m actually a fourth-generation mill worker, third-generation female, which I’m very proud of. So, my great-grandfather started here in pre-construction in 1901.” …Finding younger workers, and even harder to find, younger female workers like Hamann to step into these career paths begins with a big disadvantage. “Maine being the oldest state in the nation, it is more pronounced in our state than in other” said Krysta West of the Maine Forest Products Council. At mills like this and across Maine’s forest industries, older workers are leaving faster than younger ones are coming in.