As Connecticut manufacturers face ongoing workforce shortages, the city of New Haven on Monday welcomed the first cohort of students for a new local manufacturing training program.
Nine out of 10 manufacturers in the state report difficulty in finding or retaining workers, according to the 2022 Connecticut Manufacturing Report.
The nonprofit Manufacturing And Technical Community Hub, or MATCH, aims to help create a workforce pipeline to help fill job vacancies in the industry.
At an event Monday morning, Mayor Justin Elicker and other officials joined MATCH’s board of directors to welcome the first students enrolled in the new program, which is based at 20 Mill St., New Haven.
Participants in the bilingual program can learn a variety of skills related to manufacturing, such as assembly, welding, electrical and wiring, forklift operation, shipping, warehousing, product inspection, compliance, purchasing, marketing and more.
MATCH provides training and mentorship and helps make connections so participants can secure permanent jobs in manufacturing in New Haven. There is an “earn while you learn” component for students to earn money in the manufacturing industry while they gain skills.
For more information, visit matchct.org.
