[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Rich Cabeza

New Mexico has a high percentage (maybe the highest?) of PhDs. That doesn't mean the average New Mexican is highly educated.

That's false. It ranks 23 of 50. The states with the highest PhDs per capita are those that regularly rank highest in public and higher education.

[JayCT]

Wow!!! Electric Boat in Groton has announced that it will be hiring 1,500 workers in Connecticut this year. Even with the anticipated attrition, this means more than 800 new jobs for the state. That is great news. They will be hiring another 300 in Rhode Island which is also great news. Jay

EB hiring 1,500 CT workers in ‘16 | HartfordBusiness.com

[JayCT]

Then there is some bad news, the unemployment rate in Connecticut went up 0.1% in December to 5.2%. Job growth was flat for the month but the rate is still 1.1% lower than a year ago and is still only slightly higher than the US rate of 5.0%. Jay

CT job growth flat in December; unemployment up | HartfordBusiness.com

[RunD1987]

Tell me about job growth it stinks. Back to working 24 hour's trying to find more work. Applied to 8 or 10 job's nothing is biting.

Doesn't Electric Boat fluctuate with hiring. New contract comes in more people, contract ends people go, new contract comes in more people hired. I knew a friend who worked with them said they teach you a lot of great skills and offer opportunity to grow.

[Mr_250]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Then there is some bad news, the unemployment rate in Connecticut went up 0.1% in December to 5.2%. Job growth was flat for the month but the rate is still 1.1% lower than a year ago and is still only slightly higher than the US rate of 5.0%. Jay

CT job growth flat in December; unemployment up | HartfordBusiness.com

I don't see this as bad news. If you look at the subsectors, 7 out of 10 gained employment. Construction lost which is no big deal it's winter, education and manufacturing also fell but not that much.

What I like about this is that every sector gained an equal amount. In the past it seemed like one sector say insurance would show a loss of 300 and leisure would gain 1000. We look at this and say "yay, 700 jobs gained" but really the gain of 1000 jobs in leisure could not equal 300 jobs in insurance (from a monetary standpoint and this is proven by the rapid drop in income tax receipts). But this shows equal gain in 70% of sectors which is nice to see.

Also, EB hiring 1,500 is great!

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Mr_250

I don't see this as bad news. If you look at the subsectors, 7 out of 10 gained employment. Construction lost which is no big deal it's winter, education and manufacturing also fell but not that much.

What I like about this is that every sector gained an equal amount. In the past it seemed like one sector say insurance would show a loss of 300 and leisure would gain 1000. We look at this and say "yay, 700 jobs gained" but really the gain of 1000 jobs in leisure could not equal 300 jobs in insurance (from a monetary standpoint and this is proven by the rapid drop in income tax receipts). But this shows equal gain in 70% of sectors which is nice to see.

Also, EB hiring 1,500 is great!

I guess it is not the worst news but it would have been better if there was a gain or the unemployment rate was stable like reported in a couple of other nearby states. Jay

[BPt111]

Highest unemployment in CT Dec.2015

1. Hartford 9.1 %
2. Waterbury 7.9 %
3. Bridgeport 7.4%
4. New London 7.3%
5. New Britain 7.1 %
6. Ansonia 6.8 %
7. New Haven/Griswold 6.5 % tied
8. Norwich 6.4%
9. Windham 6.3 %
10. Norwich 6.2%

http://www1.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi/laus/laus.pdf

Wondering about other cities ?

Stamford 4.1 % Norwalk 4.4 % Meriden 6.1% West Haven 5.9 % Torrington 5.8% Derby 5.7%

[hartford_renter]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Changing to a 401k pension plan is possible for future employees but the state can't change what is being offered to current employees. There are contracts in place. Declaring bankruptcy is not easy. Remember that Bridgeport tried and failed. Jay.

That is completely untrue.

If you are a cop hired in 2005 and you currently have a pension plan, the state can freeze the plan and switch you over to a 401K plan. Your pension would still be available but it would no longer increase going forward.

Because a contract was negotiated in 2005 does not give the union the right to keep ACCRUING the benefits forever.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by hartford_renter

That is completely untrue.

If you are a cop hired in 2005 and you currently have a pension plan, the state can freeze the plan and switch you over to a 401K plan. Your pension would still be available but it would no longer increase going forward.

Because a contract was negotiated in 2005 does not give the union the right to keep ACCRUING the benefits forever.

But that is not what you posted. The plan offered can change but you can't change what was given in the past. Jay

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Wow!!! Electric Boat in Groton has announced that it will be hiring 1,500 workers in Connecticut this year. Even with the anticipated attrition, this means more than 800 new jobs for the state. That is great news. They will be hiring another 300 in Rhode Island which is also great news. Jay

EB hiring 1,500 CT workers in ‘16 | HartfordBusiness.com

I agree, and that is the part of the state which most needs it, as the casinos will be shedding ton of jobs, as more and more NE casinos come on board. And EB are better paying jobs than 90% of casino jobs, too.