Manufacturing Continues As Bright Spot In Connecticut’s Economy

EAST HARTFORD, CT — There are about 13,600 job openings in Connecticut manufacturing right now, and even though the state has beefed up its community college training programs and increased its tax credits, there’s no way they will all be filled.

Connecticut is home to more than 4,000 manufacturers who employ 159,000 employees. That means that nearly one of every 10 Connecticut workers is employed in the manufacturing sector, but the demand for those skills continues to accelerate as many in the workforce are headed for retirement.

“Manufacturing is still kind of a dirty word, and we’re working hard to overcome that,” Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Catherine Smith has said.

Cliff Thermer, assistant vice president of strategy and business development for Goodwin College, said the average student enrolled in their manufacturing program is 31 years old and enrolled part-time at school, while also holding down a job.

He said they’ve worked hard with employers to make sure the students will be ready for employment once they finish the program at the private, nonprofit Goodwin College campus.

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