[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by JayCT

So the Connecticut State Legislature has returned to a Special Session to continue the suspension of the gas tax; extend the free bus fares until March; and provide additional funds for the essential employee bonuses and heating oil assistance programs. The gas tax will be suspended until the end of the year and then be reimplemented in 5 cent per month increments until fully restored in five months. Governor Lamont is expected to sign the legislation shortly. What do you think? Is this a good move? Jay

https://westfaironline.com/governmen...ree-bus-fares/

The gas tax should stay fully suspended. The rest I agree with.

[JayCT]

Legislators got some good news today, for the first time in many years, revenue for the state is growing faster than its debts. The states very tight fiscal policies are paying off, as are the advanced pension payments. Great news. Jay

https://ctmirror.org/2022/12/05/ct-b...bility-report/

[Comp625]

To counter that good news, Sikorsky lost out on the Black Hawk replacement contract. That's not good news for both Stratford and Connecticut residents, as I assume they are a good tax generator beyond being a big employer.

https://www.ctinsider.com/business/a...r-17633470.php

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by Comp625

To counter that good news, Sikorsky lost out on the Black Hawk replacement contract. That's not good news for both Stratford and Connecticut residents, as I assume they are a good tax generator beyond being a big employer.

https://www.ctinsider.com/business/a...r-17633470.php

Big Ouch. We need better results for our private sector, which funds all we do.

[mdovell]

I didn't even think Bell was still in business. Every time I read about their works it was usually some Vietnam era helicopter.

Fred and Whitney's looking for plenty of help but I've got questions. This is an interesting article
https://www.printfriendly.com/p/g/S4x8rL

1100 phone calls led to 500 emails which led to 70 interviews which led to 15 job filled. In 2018 the same program only hired 18 people.

Since 1967 the amount of manufacturing jobs in Connecticut has declined by 66%. At one point nearly half of the jobs were manufacturing and now it's about 10%.

Maybe it might make more sense to say that perhaps people realize that the decline in the number of jobs by 66% is a deterrent against getting more people to work in that industry.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by mdovell

I didn't even think Bell was still in business. Every time I read about their works it was usually some Vietnam era helicopter.

Fred and Whitney's looking for plenty of help but I've got questions. This is an interesting article
https://www.printfriendly.com/p/g/S4x8rL

1100 phone calls led to 500 emails which led to 70 interviews which led to 15 job filled. In 2018 the same program only hired 18 people.

Since 1967 the amount of manufacturing jobs in Connecticut has declined by 66%. At one point nearly half of the jobs were manufacturing and now it's about 10%.

Maybe it might make more sense to say that perhaps people realize that the decline in the number of jobs by 66% is a deterrent against getting more people to work in that industry.

You do realize it’s a very different world today than in 1967. Back then America’s manufacturing sector was much bigger as well so this is not unique to Connecticut. Other new industries, namely technology, have grown to replace those jobs. The good news is Connecticut is still an economic powerhouse with one of the highest per capita Gross Domestic Products in the country. That kind of says it all.

You also need to realize that back in 2018 Pratt had just come off a massive hiring blitz and was taking a pause to analyze its employment levels. That’s why so few were hired. Jay

[JayCT]

In more good news for our state, Wallethub named Connecticut the 9th best state for jobs in the nation. That’s phenomenal news given past economic rankings. No wonder our states fiscal situation is improving. Jay

https://www.ctinsider.com/business/a...g-17626648.php

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by mdovell

Since 1967 the amount of manufacturing jobs in Connecticut has declined by 66%. At one point nearly half of the jobs were manufacturing and now it's about 10%.

Maybe it might make more sense to say that perhaps people realize that the decline in the number of jobs by 66% is a deterrent against getting more people to work in that industry.

The nation's manufacturing jobs fell 1/3rd since 1970, Connecticut fell 2/3rd. Thats horrible. We should not be twice as "good" as the USA at losing manufacturing jobs.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...t=0&ajaxserp=0

[mdovell]

I am well aware that manufacturing jobs have declined in the US, the northeast and CT. Automation also had a role to play the first robotic arm was made for automobile manufacturing in 1965. Also six sigma focuses more on quality rather than overall production which is why recalls are far fewer now. Technology is more about eliminating jobs, not creating them. We can get much more done today with technology then we did in the past. I could go off topic on this for paragraphs (see GPT-3) but companies exist to make a profit, not hire people. Raytheon (owner of Pratt) stock is at a 40 year high, General Dynamics (owner of electric boat) again at a 40 year high, Lockheed Martin (owner of Sikorsky) is at a 22 year high. These aren't small companies that will go out of business if they can't find a handful of people.

There's nothing wrong with manufacturing but the governor doesn't work for Pratt & Whitney or Electric Boat etc. If we changed state policies to every industry because they cannot hire people when would it end? I am just wondering how a problem that private companies have suddenly is a problem the state has to solve. Raise the pay, raise the benefits, make a bus shuttle etc.

I'd argue that the economy is doing well. The real debate is the surplus. What can the state spend money on that would make any future recession softer to deal with.

[okbymeman]

I know a guy who did the interview loop at Sikorsky recently and he told me their offer was a joke, not even market pay. Seems to be common for a lot of CT companies to pay peanuts which is why new grads don’t take the state seriously as a place to move and work.