[Beeker2211]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

Mike Rowe testified to Congress last week about the 5.6 million unfilled jobs for mostly skilled labor. He cited Springfiled Ma as having 10,000 opportunities with 75% for skilled labor yet no workers to fill those positions. A similar situation is right here in CT. Trumpf, UTC as well as many other smaller manufacturers are looking for help for good-paying skilled workers. Plumbers, electricians and other trades are experiencing similar issues. These are not consolation prize jobs for those who don't go to college. Rowe indicated in a separate interview that 30% of the unfilled positions that do not require a college degree pay over $100,000. CT has spent a considerable amount of money on education yet has moved further away from the programs that help fill this unmet need. Companies, in CT, and elsewhere are forced to move elsewhere or subcontract more of the work overseas where these jobs are recognized as important and valued in their educational system. NH and Ma have the lowest unemployment rates in the nation at 2.6% and 2.8%. CT is at 4.1%. Regardless, there are numerous opportunities for good jobs right here. Prioritizing a plan with businesses to help fill these positions would go a long way to encouraging our young people to stay in CT as well as raising revenue through increased economic activity. This strategy is what is need to put us on the right track to repair our financial problems. You can't just cut your way to prosperity.

A big problem has been the hyper-specialization and the private certification regimes: there's a lot of training that on the surface (and in reality) is similar but employers expect the training to be done pre-employment. In short, if someone is learning and spending money to get a certification in Computer-Assisted Machining, but to move laterally needs a certification in Computer-Assisted Machine Design (just making certs up for a point) that costs even more money and time.

The other issue is that the number of avenues to promote positions is mind boggling with the internet job boards, an oddly inefficient system because a perfect candidate might only be looking on one board (say: Indeed) but the job posting is on every board but that one. When it was the paper... it was the paper. People knew where to look, and where people would be looking. Just my .02 from what I've been hearing.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

Mike Rowe testified to Congress last week about the 5.6 million unfilled jobs for mostly skilled labor. He cited Springfiled Ma as having 10,000 opportunities with 75% for skilled labor yet no workers to fill those positions. A similar situation is right here in CT. Trumpf, UTC as well as many other smaller manufacturers are looking for help for good-paying skilled workers. Plumbers, electricians and other trades are experiencing similar issues. These are not consolation prize jobs for those who don't go to college. Rowe indicated in a separate interview that 30% of the unfilled positions that do not require a college degree pay over $100,000. CT has spent a considerable amount of money on education yet has moved further away from the programs that help fill this unmet need. Companies, in CT, and elsewhere are forced to move elsewhere or subcontract more of the work overseas where these jobs are recognized as important and valued in their educational system. NH and Ma have the lowest unemployment rates in the nation at 2.6% and 2.8%. CT is at 4.1%. Regardless, there are numerous opportunities for good jobs right here. Prioritizing a plan with businesses to help fill these positions would go a long way to encouraging our young people to stay in CT as well as raising revenue through increased economic activity. This strategy is what is need to put us on the right track to repair our financial problems. You can't just cut your way to prosperity.

I know Connecticut is working very closely with its major employers to train workers for the jobs being created here. Programs at area colleges and high schools have been developed to address the shortage. It is not easy or cheap but it is happening which is good for the future of our state. Jay

[Mr_250]

Number of jobs Connecticut economy created in 2016 ::drum roll:: Zero!!
Technically a loss of 200 YOY, but that's a rounding error.

5700 jobs created in January 2017 which is good, but I'll trust the revised number next month.

[Henry10]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I know Connecticut is working very closely with its major employers to train workers for the jobs being created here. Programs at area colleges and high schools have been developed to address the shortage. It is not easy or cheap but it is happening which is good for the future of our state. Jay

Bad. CT has to end this economic reductionism. It has to embrace a holistic view of the economy. In other words, don't try to micromanage, don't poison the natural course of events. Instead look at big picture on how to have a healthy economy.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Mr_250

Number of jobs Connecticut economy created in 2016 ::drum roll:: Zero!!
Technically a loss of 200 YOY, but that's a rounding error.

5700 jobs created in January 2017 which is good, but I'll trust the revised number next month.

If you look closely at the numbers the primary reasons for the numbers were not higher was layoffs in the public sector and retirement jobs being filled. Jay

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Henry10

Bad. CT has to end this economic reductionism. It has to embrace a holistic view of the economy. In other words, don't try to micromanage, don't poison the natural course of events. Instead look at big picture on how to have a healthy economy.

Working with employers to train workers is bad? Can't see why. A well trained workforce attracts businesses and is considered good for economic development. Jay

[Mr_250]

Originally Posted by JayCT

If you look closely at the numbers the primary reasons for the numbers were not higher was layoffs in the public sector and retirement jobs being filled. Jay

Yes, so higher wage retirees either forced layoffs or straight up retirements and those jobs being filled by younger workers, no doubt being paid less. Public sector, layoffs (forced or planned).

Still, no net job gain equals stagnant. "Filling a vacated seat doesn't equal growth. Adding a wing does."

Just look at the income tax receipts. The numbers are coming in way way below projections.

[Henry10]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Working with employers to train workers is bad? Can't see why. A well trained workforce attracts businesses and is considered good for economic development. Jay

There is a time and place for Govt action, but trying to steer one component of an extremely complex tangled web is recipe for nasty side affects and unintended consequencies.

All benign-appearing Govt interferences in the marketplace belie a very ugly outcome -- undesirability to do business in CT. In reality, the opposite is true -- the less Govt interferes the more jobs are created. When will CT get this?

We can't solve our problems with same mindset that created them.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Henry10

There is a time and place for Govt action, but trying to steer one component of an extremely complex tangled web is recipe for nasty side affects and unintended consequencies.

All benign-appearing Govt interferences in the marketplace belie a very ugly outcome -- undesirability to do business in CT. In reality, the opposite is true -- the less Govt interferes the more jobs are created. When will CT get this?

We can't solve our problems with same mindset that created them.

Uhhh... I don't consider education and training to be bad. Without trained and educated workers, employers would look elsewhere to do business. Sorry you do not agree but that is the way business and government work these days whether you like it or not. Jay

[JayCT]

Looks like January was a great month for jobs here. Jay

CT toasts to 5,400 new jobs in Jan. | HartfordBusiness.com