High-tech Maine firms unite to recruit workers

PORTLAND – While many high-tech companies across the nation are laying off workers because of a slowing economy, dozens of Maine technology companies are still hungry for employees.

“We’re always looking to fill our pipeline with people,” said Jennifer Comeau, relationship manager for Stroudwater NHG, a Portland software engineering and business consulting company. “We’ve had all kinds of people who were very interested. They’re serious people and they’re interested in looking for jobs in Maine.”

Maine’s high-tech businesses have taken several steps to draw workers, including an e-mail campaign targeted at former Mainers that informs them about an influx of technology businesses in the state in recent years.

About 135 high-tech companies also teamed up to hold a job fair on Tuesday, an event which organizers said was the biggest of its kind ever held in Maine. The fair drew more than 5,000 potential job seekers.