By Jim Damicis, Scarborough resident and Senior Vice President, Camoin Associates
When people think about Scarborough’s economy, they typically think of the establishments used daily by residents, visitors, and workers, such as retail stores and restaurants, medical offices, or personal and business services. They may even think about construction, which has historically been strong in this town. One sector that flies under the radar but is very important to the local economy is manufacturing.
Scarborough’s manufacturing sector is diverse. It includes medical- and biological-related businesses, such as Abbott Labs and Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies, to advanced manufacturing, including Kady International, to food and beverage manufacturing: Len Libby’s Candies, Bimbo Bakeries, and Nonesuch River Brewing.
According to the Maine Department of Labor, in 2023, Scarborough’s 38 manufacturing establishments employed 1,339 workers. That is fewer than Portland, Westbrook, and Biddeford, but more than Gorham, South Portland, and Saco. This makes manufacturing Scarborough’s fourth largest industry as measured by private sector employment, behind healthcare and social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation and food services. In total, it represents 8.9% of all private-sector jobs.
COVID-19 impacted Scarborough’s manufacturers differently than it did most other industries. Many others saw immediate and dramatic employment decreases at the pandemic’s start followed by continued decline for three to four years. Scarborough’s manufacturing sector experienced an immediate increase followed by a slow return to historic levels. This was due to businesses like Abbott Labs ramping up production of COVID test kits and other products to serve the country’s medical supply needs.
Even after returning to historical levels, in 2023, manufacturing employment in Scarborough was 25.5% above its pre-COVID level, an increase of 272 employees. This far exceeded the less than 1% growth in manufacturing statewide.
In 2023, manufacturing wages in Scarborough averaged $1,490 weekly. This exceeded both the state average for manufacturing ($1,298) and the average for all industries in Scarborough ($1,310). This shows the importance of manufacturing to this region’s workers.
These data highlight the success and importance of manufacturing in Scarborough. With great access to the highway, Portland Jetport, and major metropolitan areas to the south, Scarborough provides a favorable location for these companies to thrive. Additionally, the Town of Scarborough has made important policy and infrastructure decisions to provide industrial areas for these companies to locate, including the Scarborough Industrial Park and the Downs. This has resulted in benefits to businesses, workers, and taxpayers in the community.
Photo by Louis Reed
