The Biggest Industries in Maine

Maine is the 12th smallest state and the 9th least populous in the United States. It
borders the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick as well as the
Atlantic Ocean which plays a significant role in its economy. According to the
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Maine’s GSP1 is $61.4 billion (2017). Maine has
witnessed a dramatic shift in some of its top industries over the past several
decades. The state was once known for shipbuilding, fishing, agriculture, and the
making of paper. Below are the biggest industries in today’s Maine.

Agriculture
There are approximately 8,200 farms that collectively contribute about $800
million per year. Maine’s agricultural output is mainly blueberries, dairy products,
potato, poultry, and eggs. Maine is the top producer of blueberries and the
second-largest producer of maple syrup in the US. Livestock and livestock
production account for approximately 60% of the agriculture revenue.

Fisheries
Maine’s fishing industry ranks high among the state and its lobster catch is the
biggest in the country. Large quantities of seaweed and oyster in the state, with

1
In the same way the GDP is an indicator that measures the size of a country’s economy, the gross
state product (GSP) is a statistic that measures the size of a region's economy.
Maine accounting for about 14% of the oyster supply from the Northeast. It is
estimated that the seaweed industry generates $20 million per year.

Shipbuilding
Maine has long been known for shipbuilding, with several companies setting base
in the state. Although the growth of the industry was slowed down, especially
after World War One, there are about 200 firms in Maine that still build ships and
boats. Apart from the boats, luxury yachts are also a growing part of the industry.
The yachts are mainly sold to the European and Asian markets.

Healthcare
Healthcare is one of the largest employers in Maine. Roughly 8% of the state’s
population work in the health care and social assistance industry. The jobs in this
industry range from doctors to nurses, caregivers, and ambulance workers. In
2016, the hospitals directly employed about 35,000 people and spent about $5.7
billion as operating and capital expenditure. The overall contribution of the
healthcare industry to the economy of Maine was $10 billion in 2016.

Tourism
Tourism is one of the steadily growing industries in Maine, thanks to the generous
coastline, rich American history, and famous. The tourism industry also supports
other industries such as agriculture and fisheries which supply it with food. Maine
is known for several attractions including national parks, rocky coastline,
lighthouses, beaches, and sports fishing.

Mining
Maine is particularly known to produce granite, gem, and slate. The state was the
first in the country to produce granite.

Manufacturing
The manufacturing industry in Maine was dominated by making paper and paper
products, textile, leather, and wood products throughout the 20th century.
Although the shoe industry was once the largest source of industrial jobs in Maine,
it has since been replaced by aerospace products and parts manufacturing,
medical equipment manufacturing, and cement and concrete product
manufacturing.

Other Notable Industries

The educational services industry employs about 59,000 of Maine residents. It is
the fastest-growing state industry with growing opportunities for teachers in
government-funded schools. Construction in Maine is slowly recovering with more
opportunities for contractors, workers, and engineers. The retail industry employs
about 6% of Maine’s population. The largest employers in the retail sector are
food stores, car dealerships, and clothing stores.

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