As we celebrate National Workforce Development Month in September and look ahead to National Manufacturing Month in October, Connecticut faces a critical challenge: ensuring that its workforce keeps pace with industry needs in a rapidly evolving economy. At CT State Community College (CT State), we are leading this effort, cultivating the talent needed to fill […]
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As we celebrate National Workforce Development Month in September and look ahead to National Manufacturing Month in October, Connecticut faces a critical challenge: ensuring that its workforce keeps pace with industry needs in a rapidly evolving economy.
At CT State Community College (CT State), we are leading this effort, cultivating the talent needed to fill high-demand jobs and propel Connecticut’s industries into the future.
Our graduates are not just employees and small business owners — they are the backbone of Connecticut’s economy. CT State serves the largest undergraduate student body in the state, with more than 90% of our alumni staying in Connecticut, contributing to the local tax base.
This positions our college as a key driver of job creation and economic growth. Whether it’s in health care, IT, manufacturing or education, CT State produces the skilled talent that Connecticut businesses depend on.
We are expanding allied health programs and forging new partnerships with local manufacturers to ensure Connecticut remains competitive. CT State is the state’s largest producer of manufacturing, allied health and nursing graduates, and the leading supplier of IT professionals.
Our nursing graduates boast an NCLEX-RN exam pass rate of over 98%, and 90% of our manufacturing graduates secure employment shortly after completing their studies.
If CT State is going to continue to be the talent engine that our employers rely on, we must reimagine what investment in public higher education looks like.
A recent report conducted by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce projects that between 2021 and 2031, an average of 197,000 job openings will be created annually in Connecticut, both from new jobs and jobs that become available for other reasons, such as retirement.
During this time, the state will see net growth of 86,000 jobs requiring postsecondary education and training.
Continued investment from both the public and private sectors is essential to scaling our programs and meeting the growing demand in emerging fields like nursing, manufacturing, cybersecurity, renewable energy and data analytics.
I urge policymakers and business leaders to collaborate with CT State in building the workforce of the future.
Thanks to the restoration of key components of our budget during the last legislative session, our students have access to vital services such as career counseling, tutoring, mentoring, mental health support and state-of-the-art classroom technology. This investment ensures we aren’t just preparing students for jobs — we’re equipping them with the skills and resilience to thrive in their careers.
Our strong relationships with Connecticut manufacturers and healthcare partners like Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky, General Dynamics-Electric Boat, Hartford HealthCare and Yale New Haven Health — among others — underscore our role in driving the state’s economy. Many of our students train on-site, and secure jobs with family-sustaining wages upon graduating.
Additionally, our allied health students provide clinical services to underserved populations before they graduate. These collaborations are essential to the ongoing success of the state’s manufacturing and healthcare sectors, as well as the vitality of our communities.
The success stories of our graduates illustrate the transformative power of a community college education. Many go on to build careers in fields critical to Connecticut’s future, while others continue their education at four-year institutions, saving tens of thousands of dollars through our transfer pathways and free tuition programs.
This affordability is central to our mission, particularly for first-generation and working adult students who rely on us for a high-quality, low-cost education.
As the son of Igbo-Nigerian immigrants, I have seen firsthand the transformative power of education. My own journey from public schools to advanced degrees is a testament to what is possible when students are provided with the opportunities and support they need to succeed.
At CT State, we are committed to offering that same path to every student — preparing them not only for jobs, but for lifelong success. Our students thrive when they are positioned to secure family-sustaining careers.
This September, as we observe National Workforce Development Month, let’s recognize that CT State Community College is more than an educational institution — it is the driving force behind the state’s future workforce. By continuing to invest in adaptable, innovative and workforce-focused programs, we can ensure that Connecticut’s businesses remain competitive, our communities thrive, and our residents have the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly changing economy.
O. John Maduko is the president of CT State Community College.
