Connecticut is facing a workforce crisis, with employers across industries reporting difficulty finding and retaining talent. However, the state has a pool of young people who are eager to contribute but lack access to opportunities.

Aging Population and Intensifying Competition

Connecticut’s population is aging, and competition for skilled workers is intensifying. The state’s long-term economic health depends on its ability to develop the talent already living in its communities.

One of the most promising workforce solutions is to invest in the state’s young people. Thousands of young people across Connecticut remain disconnected from education, employment, and career pathways that would allow them to contribute. They are often viewed through the lens of challenges and deficits rather than potential.

Success Stories

Our Piece of the Pie, a non-profit organization, has worked with young people who are navigating significant barriers on their path to success. Through programs such as Hartford Youth Service Corps, the organization has seen firsthand what happens when young people are provided with support, guidance, and opportunities to thrive.

Over the past ten years, Hartford Youth Service Corps has served more than 2,700 young people, who have completed over 640,000 hours of paid work experience, earned nearly $10 million in wages, and contributed to over 2,000 community service projects. Seventy-three percent of participants secured unsubsidized employment, while thousands more gained the skills, credentials, and workplace experience necessary to pursue long-term career pathways.

The success of these programs demonstrates that Connecticut is not facing a shortage of youth talent, but rather a shortage of pathways that connect that talent to opportunity.

Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.