Jobs For Connecticut Now

New England’s unemployment rate has increased to 7.8%, the highest it’s been since 1992. Rhode Island has the highest unemployment rate in the region, at 10.5%, while Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire aren’t far behind. Maine’s jobless rate is at its highest in 17 years, and Connecticut, Vermont and Massachusetts have their highest jobless rates in 16 years.

Clearly, our country is in the middle of an economic crisis, with unemployment rates increasing across the board. That the same is happening in New England is hardly surprising, although it could have been avoided to some extent. Now, New England can languish at the bottom as unemployment rates continue to rise and businesses in our region continue to fold or flee, or we can come together to be informed about how we can prevent further problems and look to promote solutions. Our region’s policymakers should be working to encourage business growth and measures that will increase employment. An unfriendly business environment impacts large and small businesses, employees and future employees, and working families.

This region is populated by smart, proud, and innovative individuals and our coalition wants to ensure that New England continues to be a place that allows working families, and their children, to prosper now and into the future. By implementing measures that lead to greater opportunity for businesses and workers to succeed and that support companies willing to invest in the region, policymakers can make life better for residents of New England and for their children. We must convince policymakers that anti-growth measures make the region less competitive than other states that are not facing the budget shortfalls we face. Our elected officials should be doing everything they can to encourage economic development and business investment in our region.

Connecticut State Senator Rob Kane, in today’s Town Times, expressed frustration with the lack of bipartisan support for passing a state budget plan. Kane has some good perspective on the continued legislative infighting; while lawmakers quarrel about possible resolutions to the state budget deficit, Connecticut residents are “worried about putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads.”

The legislative session closes in less than six weeks, during which time the General Assembly should be able to look past partisan politics and towards a solution that will encourage economic growth. Last week the legislative majority proposed a budget plan calling for several billion dollars in tax increases – hardly a solution to dwindling job opportunities and a shrinking economy in Connecticut.

Any viable solution will seek a way to close the budgetary gap without imposing an additional burden on Connecticut residents; in this economy, small business owners and individuals are at a financial breaking point. Government policies that will stifle economic growth and threaten jobs are certainly not the answer. Senator Kane said it best: If the Assembly is unable to come to an agreement before the end of the session, the biggest losers will be the Connecticut citizens and taxpayers who deserve (and expect) better from their elected officials.

Today on the Hartford Courant’s blog, CT Confidential, Rick Green let us know that Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz is worried that Connecticut businesses are struggling to stay afloat in the current economic conditions. Green cites Department of Labor statistics that estimate over 7,000 jobs lost in March, with the unemployment rate up to 7.5% statewide. Bysiewicz says that the state must get federal stimulus funding into the hands of Connecticut businesses quickly, and that the state should be investing in health care and transportation to bolster the economy.

While the wise use of federal stimulus dollars and reinvestment in state programs and infrastructure will contribute to growing and strengthening Connecticut’s economy, it is also important to focus on the implementation of policies that will promote business growth and attract new businesses. Policymakers must understand that pro-business measures will lead to the creation of more jobs, greater tax revenues, and additional funding for important government programs and non-profit organizations.

Now is the time to take action to encourage economic development and future job growth throughout the region. New England is populated by smart, proud, and innovative individuals; policies affecting jobs and economic growth should be geared towards ensuring that residents will continue to prosper now and into the future. By implementing measures that lead to greater opportunity for businesses and workers to succeed and that support companies willing to invest in the region, policymakers can make life better for residents of Connecticut and New England and for their children.

The Courant blog posting can be viewed here.