Maine's Labor Chief Joins Elite Group to Shape Future Workforce

Maine's Commissioner of Labor to Collaborate with Swiss Leaders on Workforce Development

Laura Fortman, Maine's Commissioner of Labor, has been chosen for the American Swiss Foundation's 2025 Innovation Fellows program. This esteemed group brings together leaders from the U.S. and Switzerland to discuss workforce development and labor innovation.

Program Kickoff at Harvard

The program commenced with a forum at Harvard's Graduate School of Education. Here, Fortman and other state labor leaders shared ideas on how to prepare workers for the future. The primary goal is to find new ways to train people for jobs that don't even exist yet.

Fortman's Vision

Fortman is excited about this opportunity. She aims to learn from Switzerland's famous apprenticeship system, renowned for its success in training workers. Fortman hopes to bring some of these innovative ideas back to Maine.

Fortman's Background

Fortman has been in charge of Maine's labor department since 2019. She oversees labor laws, job training, and unemployment benefits. Prior to this, she led the same department from 2003 to 2011 under Governor John Baldacci.

Support from Lee Umphrey

Lee Umphrey, CEO of the Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC), supports Fortman's efforts. He believes this program will help Maine improve its workforce training. Umphrey thinks Fortman's experience makes her a great choice for this role.

American Swiss Foundation

The American Swiss Foundation was created in 1945. Its mission is to connect leaders from Switzerland and the U.S. to invest in the next generation. This program is part of that mission.