Manufacturing in Connecticut is accelerating at a 3.7% year-over-year growth rate through September, retaining its spot as the state’s fastest-growing employment sector even as employers grapple with a severe labor shortage, according to findings from the CBIA Foundation’s third annual Manufacturing Bus Tour.
The five-day tour, which crisscrossed the state from October 12 through October 16, brought participants inside 15 manufacturing facilities and five workforce development and education partners. The objective was to examine an economic engine that has evolved far beyond traditional defense contracting into artificial intelligence, precision medical devices, and aerospace components.
Diversified Growth Across Connecticut Shop Floors
While defense giants like General Dynamics Electric Boat, RTX Pratt & Whitney, and Sikorsky continue to anchor the state’s industrial base, the modern shop floor tells a remarkably varied story. Demand spans from deep-sea submarines to the physical infrastructure powering the nationwide artificial intelligence boom.
Data centers driving the AI buildout rely heavily on components manufactured locally. Farmington-based ebm-pabst has experienced a surge in orders for cooling fans, while Sound Manufacturing in Old Saybrook builds the racks where server chips sit. Meanwhile, medical device manufacturers like Medtronic operate a North Haven facility staffed by more than 1,500 workers churning out billions of dollars in life-saving products.
Aerospace innovation matches that pace. In East Lyme, Birk Manufacturing produces specialized heating systems designed to protect critical satellite and spacecraft components from the extreme temperatures of space. That supply chain reaches directly into nearby facilities like AVNA in Berlin, illustrating an interdependent local network that also produced this year’s Coolest Thing Made in Connecticut winner: The Lee Company’s Satellite Propellant Isolation Valve.
Manufacturers Compete for Shrinking Talent Pool
That momentum runs headfirst into a tightening labor market. Connecticut’s broader labor force has shrunk by roughly 50,000 people over the past year. Concurrently, manufacturers reported more than 8,000 open positions as of September.
The resulting competition for talent stretches across the entire supply chain. Smaller suppliers frequently compete directly with the large manufacturers they serve for experienced employees. While losing a seasoned hand poses a serious hurdle for a small shop, it often marks a career advancement for the worker.
To bridge this gap, educators and regional programs are stepping up their outreach. Derby High School partners with Housatonic Community College to grant students manufacturing experience alongside college credit. Westbrook High School runs career academies focusing on welding, fabrication, and robotics. In Torrington, Oliver Wolcott Technical High School prepares students to step directly into skilled jobs.
Financial barriers remain a hurdle for adult learners, a challenge addressed by programs such as MATCH in New Haven, where participants receive compensation while they train.
Modernization Requires Retaining Financial Investment Capacity
Sustaining this momentum requires constant modernization.
In Farmington, ebm-pabst supplies the cutting-edge machines that allow other businesses to scale production. As industry leaders point out, maintaining this advanced ecosystem depends heavily on ensuring that companies retain the financial capacity to invest, hire, and expand locally.
