Construction Jobs to Increase in Next Five Years

As many as 30,000 construction jobs are expected to be added in central Connecticut in the next five years, according to the state Department of Labor.

The highest concentration of new jobs are expected in Bristol, New Britain, Hartford, East Hartford, Canton and Simsbury. Companies  are expected to spend nearly $5 billion on new construction projects by 2016.

As seen on the attached pdf document, many of the jobs are public projects involving constuction of school or state buildings. Planned projects include:

• 2012, West Bristol School; 288 jobs
• 2013, New Britain – Hartford Busway Project; 2,370 jobs
• 2014, UConn Health Center; 1,696 jobs

To get more information on job creation and employment, click here.

The state has invested $425,000 in its “Jobs Funnels” to train workers for these jobs, according to the labor department, with $125,000 provided to Capital Region program. 

In addition, a portion of the $5.8 million federal grant awarded in June from the U.S. Department of Labor for the creation of green jobs will be dedicated to supporting the state’s Jobs Funnels programs.

The Jobs Funnels provide pre-employment preparation, specific work competencies and trade-related certifications that are aligned with today’s needs.

For example, in recent years, the Funnels have added green job training in the areas of weatherization, Brownfields remediation and solar installation to meet the needs of environmental and cost efficiency based construction projects.

 “This new report is good news for the construction and trades industries and it’s good news for our state’s economy,” Governor Dannel P. Malloy wrote in the statement. “The Jobs Funnels program is an innovative way to train the workers our employers need now. Our economy continues to evolve and change, and we need to ensure our workers do, too.”