Bar Harbor has a robust tourism economy, an active downtown that benefits from tourists visiting Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island, as well as a year-round economy anchored by a number of key institutions and businesses. The economy provides employment and services to residents and visitors.
The majority of jobs in Bar Harbor fall into the following sectors:
- professional, scientific, and technical services
- health care and social assistance
- retail
- accommodations and food service
- educational services
The complexity of the local economy can be seen in the labor and housing shortages resulting from being a very desirable community. The economy that is envisioned for Bar Harbor will better balance the needs of residents and visitors, minimize impacts on the community’s shared resources, and be profitable.