Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Survey: Connecticut lacks skilled technical workers

Nutmeg State businesses are having a hard time hiring workers, according to a newly released survey by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association.

The CBIA said Connecticut has demographic challenges on two fronts: The population of young people in the state is declining, and the baby boomer generation is preparing to retire. Consequently, skilled workers are becoming scarce.

The worker shortage -- particularly in the machining, engineering, sales and customer-service fields -- is among the findings of the 2008 Availability of Skilled Workers in Connecticut Survey, released by the CBIA in conjunction with Capital Workforce Partners and the United Illuminating Co.

The survey also said skills most in demand are manufacturing, communication and leadership, computer and engineering skills, as well as "overall employability" skills, such as work ethic and punctuality.

Businesses cited Connecticut's high cost of living, a decline in the quality of its public education, lack of transportation, and so-called brain drain as factors in their difficulty finding workers.

To offset the shortage, survey respondents said they were encouraging employees to work beyond the traditional retirement age, enhancing retirement plan and health insurance benefits, and offering flexible schedules.