Jobs and the Economy

RECENT LAWS HELPING WORKERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES

Helping Small Businesses

To help small businesses, we continued funding the highly successful Small Business Express Program. The Department of Economic and Community Development will also develop a program for construction projects for minority business enterprises. These moves will create jobs and better economic opportunities for Connecticut families.


Pay Equity and Fairness

To reduce wage inequality and make wage rates more transparent, we prohibited employers from preventing an employee from discussing their wage with another employee or requiring that an employee sign a document prohibiting them from doing so. Any employer who violates this law will be subject to compensatory damages, including attorney's fees and punitive damages.


Reducing Health Care Costs to Connecticut Cities and Towns

We directed the State Comptroller to allow municipal employees and retirees to join state employee health plans. This will mean big savings in healthcare costs for towns and cities around our state. The costs are reduced because employees from participating towns join a shared risk pool with state employees and other participating towns.

 

RESOURCES FOR JOB SEEKERS

Ready to Work Program

This program provides job skills training to low-income individuals age 55 and older in Connecticut. To qualify, you must be unemployed and have an annual family income that is not more than 125% of the federal poverty income guidelines (single/$14,588 and family of three/$24,738).

Participants are placed in temporary training assignments to gain on-the-job work experience.  They work 20 hours a week at the training sites for minimum wage. The program is designed to:

  • Help our older workforce learn new job skills
  • Assist in resume development and the search for a job
  • Increase opportunities to obtain jobs in the private sector
  • Change stereotypes about older workers through public education and demonstrated success

For additional information about Ready to Work, please contact Jennifer Gorman at (860) 424-5643 or at Jennifer.Gorman@ct.gov


Job Seeking Resources

CT Jobs: Connecticut’s Employment Exchange

CT Department of Labor: Job and Career ConneCTion

CT DOL: Reemployment Portal

DAS State Employment Connection

CT DOL: Connecticut Career Paths Information Handbook

CT Works Career Centers

Unemployment Benefits Online Application


Job Training Resources

STEP Up for Vets
CT DOL: Education and Training ConneCTion


Resources for Businesses

Small Business Express

Economic and Manufacturing Assistance Act

DECD:  Check the DECD  website for information on tax credit programs, support for startups and entrepreneurs and access to loans and other resources for companies large and small.