STAYING POWER; 'Brain drain' notwithstanding, a study shows plenty of Maine's college grads find jobs and build careers without leaving the state
BYLINE: ANNA FIORENTINO Staff Writer
After graduation next year, Khristopher Lalemand plans to join the flock of college graduates migrating south in search of wages that'll let them pay for rent and student loans.
''All my friends and I talk about is moving out of state. There aren't jobs here for us,'' said Lalemand.
But a surprising number of others wonder why they should fly south if the business climate is warm right here?
A recent study showed Maine's ''brain drain'' may not be as common as some once thought.
''There is a lot of folklore wisdom about the so-called brain drain,'' said David Silvernail, one of the authors of the statewide study. ''These findings countered that.''
The data from the study, ''Maine's College Graduates: Where They Go and Why,'' showed that while half of Maine college graduates leave the state for work, half remain in Maine or return to the state after graduation.
The study, released Wednesday for the Finance Authority of Maine, surveyed 1,780 recent Maine college graduates that attended schools in and out of state in 1997 or 1999.
Silvernail, who is USM's director for the Federal Center for Education Policy and Applied Research, told nearly 100 educators, USM Corporate Partners and policy makers during a presentation on Wednesday that this is good news for the state's future economy.
However, he said the study also highlights the common misperception among college students and parents that there are no decent-wage jobs for new graduates in Maine. This lack of awareness that might unnecessarily deter them from staying here, and that's unfortunate, he said.
His advice? People should refocus their arguments from how to stop Maine graduates from leaving the state to discussions and policy recommendations that help Maine's work force remain more educated than they were decades ago.
The Higher Education study listed better career opportunities and benefits thought to be found elsewhere as important factors in recent graduates' decision to leave the state.
Those who looked for and found jobs in Maine cited reasons such as being closer to family and friends, and recreational activities.
Lalemand, a business major on the dean's list, said his desire to quickly pay off student loans makes him - and his peers - inclined to leave Maine, at least for a few years after graduation.
The study found that many who left the state plan to move back to Maine, a finding that's right in line with Lalemand's plan.
''Anybody who's good with numbers knows you have to move to a big city like New York,'' he said. ''But I will eventually move back here to raise my family.''
Many others, though, are trying to make a life by staying put.
Todd Bernard, founder and creative director of SPACE Gallery, said he was surprised by how many are actually staying in Maine. The 1999 USM graduate, who grew up in Aurburn, is among them.
''You just need to be a little more creative about what you're doing and how you're supporting yourself if you decide to stay in Maine,'' Bernard said. ''The lifestyle here isn't about what your paycheck looks like.''
Jennifer Sirois, a 25-year-old credit analyst for TD Banknorth, said it wasn't until she was thrust into her first job that she began to meet others like herself who landed local jobs that utilized their education.
Sirois, who graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 1999, said that while Maine undoubtedly has fewer jobs than large cities like Boston, the pool of applicants here is less competitive - even in business fields.
''I don't intend on leaving. I like the community feeling of Portland. There are ample opportunities, especially in the financial sector because it's less competitive than cities like Boston,'' she said.
As president of the Maine chapter of the Young Professionals Group, Sirois has more exposure to young professionals in Maine than most people.
''At the department I work for, we're all in the same stage of our lives,'' said Sirois, a Saco native. ''When I first joined I knew virtually no one. Just through becoming chair, I met many people within my own organization I wouldn't have otherwise known,'' she said. ''I always knew I'd look to Maine first for jobs.''
All she had to do was try.
Staff Writer Anna Fiorentino can be contacted at 791-6330 or at: