Employment by Industry – % of Population ( Top 3 )
Washington |
27.2 % Education , Health Care , Social Assistance |
12.2 % Agriculture , Forestry , Fishing , Mining |
11.6 % Retail Trade |
Hancock |
26.7 % Education , Health Care , Social Assistance |
12.9 % Retail Trade |
11 % Arts , Entertainment , Recreation , Accommodations , Food Service |
Source : 2012 – 2016 American Communities Survey Census Bureau
Municipal and land use ordinances in most communities neither discourage nor incentivize specific development types . Comprehensive plans do outline small business as the most desired type of business development – such as leisure , entertainment , and personal services . Both Washington and Hancock Counties have small business development centers , community colleges , economic development entities , and entrepreneurial centers that provide workforce training plus technology and financial resources for small businesses .
Industry
Primary employing industries in Washington County are Education , health care , and social assistance ( approximately 26 %); agriculture , forestry , fishing , mining ( approximately 13 %); and retail trade ( approximately 10 %).
Primary employing industries in Hancock County are Education , health care , and social assistance ( approximately 26 %); retail trade ( approximately 13 %); and professional , scientific , management , and administrative ( approximately 10 %).
Washington County has always been the largest producer of wild blueberries in the world and is also the largest supplier of balsam wreaths . Aquaculture – mainly growing or harvesting seaweed , pen-rearing salmon , and seeding scallops and mussels – is an expanding industry in both Washington and Hancock Counties . Timber harvesting is an important industry in northern Washington County , from the raw product to finishing at the Baileyville Tissue Mill .
Commercial fisheries are critical to the entire coast of Washington County and much of coastal Hancock County . The highest lobster landings in the country occur in Stonington ( Hancock County ) and Jonesport ( Washington County ). During the Covid-19 pandemic , the fisheries
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