Productivity from those working at Connecticut jobs has enhanced, according to recent stats from the BLS.

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 0.7 percent
annual rate during the fourth quarter of 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today. The gain in productivity reflects increases of
3.6 percent in output and 2.9 percent in hours worked. (All quarterly
percent changes in this release are seasonally adjusted annual rates.)
From the fourth quarter of 2010 to the fourth quarter of 2011,
productivity grew 0.5 percent, as output rose 2.3 percent and hours rose
1.8 percent. Annual average productivity increased 0.7
percent from 2010 to 2011.

Labor productivity, or output per hour, is calculated by dividing an index
of real output by an index of hours worked of all persons, including
employees, proprietors, and unpaid family workers.

Unit labor costs in nonfarm businesses increased 1.2 percent in the fourth
quarter of 2011, as productivity grew at a slower rate (0.7 percent) than
hourly compensation (1.9 percent). Unit labor costs rose 1.3 percent over
the last four quarters. Annual average unit labor costs
increased 1.2 percent from 2010 to 2011.

BLS defines unit labor costs as the ratio of hourly compensation to labor
productivity; increases in hourly compensation tend to increase unit labor
costs and increases in output per hour tend to reduce them.

Manufacturing sector productivity declined 0.4 percent in the fourth
quarter of 2011, as output rose 3.8 percent and hours worked increased 4.2
percent; this is the largest quarterly gain in hours worked since the
fourth quarter of 2005 (4.8 percent). Over the last four quarters,
manufacturing productivity increased 1.7 percent. Annual average
productivity grew 2.8 percent from 2010 to 2011. Unit labor costs in
manufacturing increased 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 but
decreased 1.1 percent from the same quarter a year ago.

GE recently announced its intent to open manufacturing centers all over the US and to create more Connecticut jobs.

As part of its focus on what works, GE will launch several new programs throughout the year, including:

· New pilot programs with partners to improve healthcare delivery in Louisville, KY, and Erie, PA, to achieve better health at lower costs in each community. This follows a successful program in Cincinnati that has resulted in significantly lower costs for both local employers and providers while improving access and maintaining quality care.

· Hiring 5,000 U.S. veterans over the next five years and sponsoring a “Hire our Heroes” partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help veterans integrate into the civilian workforce and match them to jobs.

· Opening several manufacturing skill-building centers called “GE Garages” to spark interest in skills for jobs and partnering with GOOD/Corps on the What Works Project, a new interactive platform to highlight what works by inviting the public to submit stories, images or video depictions of what is currently driving American competitiveness. The project will award up to $10,000 each week through November to selected non-profit organizations that support American jobs and skills training.

· Doubling the number of GE engineering interns to more than 5,000 as part of an initiative proposed by the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to add 10,000 more engineering graduates a year in the U.S.

The program is program aimed at strengthening America’s global competitiveness by building a more highly skilled workforce, lowering healthcare costs and supporting the integration of the nation’s veterans into the workforce.

Medix Staffing is holding a slew of job fairs with the aim of hiring for recruiting jobs in Connecticut.

It will also be recruiting for sales jobs in Maryland as well.

Medix is a national staffing organization specialized in recruiting skilled personnel for clients in the Professional Services, Life Sciences, Healthcare and Information Technology industries.

It plans on increasing its internal staff through a concentrated hiring initiative.

The company launched the hiring surge to draw in talent from sales and recruiting professionals across the country. According to Carrie Losch, Senior Corporate Recruiter at Medix, the company is excited to explore what these professionals can potentially add to the Medix team.

Medix’s internal recruiting team will seek out talent at over 30 career fairs across the country over the next few months, including fairs at Penn State, the University of Iowa, the University of Maryland, the University of Connecticut, and the University of Arizona, to name a few.

“By May, we are hoping to have solidified 60 new hires,” said Losch. “Our hiring goals are challenging and ambitious, as we eagerly look forward to growing our internal team to continue to serve our growing contractor and client base.”