Industry Leadership

Connecticut’s employer-driven workforce system responds to the current and future skill needs of industry. Employers play a significant role in this work by:

• Articulating the specific skills they need for current and future jobs and then working with educators and training providers to inform curriculum and credentials;
• Providing work-based learning opportunities for students and faculty that include career awareness, internships and pre-apprenticeships; and
• Hiring talent into good jobs, prioritizing skills over degrees, and further investing in upskilling their employees as part of their retention and promotion strategy.

In Connecticut, Industry Leadership begins with Regional Sector Partnerships (RSPs). RSPs bring employers from specific industries within a region together to collectively address workforce needs, and align education and training programs with real-world requirements.

Since 2021, Connecticut has built 14 Regional Sector Partnerships that have brought together 750+ employers, in healthcare, IT, bioscience, manufacturing, transportation distribution logistics, and architecture, construction, and engineering.

Together, these RSPs have collaborated with K-12 schools, higher education institutions, adult education programs, and training providers to define workforce skill needs and develop regional programming, industry informed curricula, and work-based learning opportunities to meet those needs.

Examples include career exploration programs, internships, pre-apprenticeships, registered apprenticeships, certificate programs, accelerated training programs, and future-ready degree programs.

Student Program to Ready Interns for Next-Generation Talent (SPRINT)
Well on her way to earning a B.S.E. in biomedical engineering at the University of Connecticut, Reva knew she wanted to work in the biosciences. But first she wanted to better understand the biotech company landscape and the different career paths available to her. SPRINT delivered, with an internship over two summers at Arvinas, a clinical-stage biotech company working to develop treatments for patients with limited options.

In her two summers as an intern on the automation team, Reva gained a range of industry experience, honed in on a specific area of focus, and began building her professional network—all of which she’ll bring to bear as she pursues a master’s degree at Columbia University. The SPRINT Internship program was launched by the Greater New Haven Bioscience Collaborative, a Regional Sector Partnership, which is supported by the Good Jobs Challenge, to advance a sustainable bioscience workforce and career opportunities through active engagement with industry leaders and community partners. Over the last three years, 450 students from 85 colleges and universities have come to New Haven for summer internships.

Through the Federal Economic Development Administration Good Jobs Challenge, Connecticut received a $23.9 million grant – the largest award in the nation – to build collaborative skills training systems and programs.

The state is using these funds to support 10 Regional Sector Partnerships (RSPs), with the goals of training and placing 2,000 people in quality, in-demand jobs in healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology.

These initiatives are creating workforce opportunities for all individuals — with particular attention to those who face challenges accessing education, training, and employment.

The State of Connecticut is a national leader in skills-first hiring, with 93% of state positions open to candidates without a bachelor’s degree.

This commitment to valuing skills over credentials has earned Connecticut a founding membership in Opportunity@Work’s prestigious STARS Public Sector Hub. As a hub member, Connecticut gains access to specialized resources, valuable connections, and proven strategies to enhance both workforce development and public sector employment opportunities.