Connecticut's most comprehensive job site
for opportunities across the state.

Some Connecticut education jobs could be affected by state budget cuts.

The Connecticut Association of Urban Superintendents is planning to host a legislative breakfast next month to help promote its goal to preserve state education aid and spend unfunded mandates. According to an article by The Hartford Courant, Connecticut’s education board approved potential budget cuts earlier this month that could cut Education Cost Sharing aid to school districts by $230 million.

Municipal leaders have met with legislative delegations to press for protection of ECS funding and the urban superintendents group plans to voice that message as well. Even well-off communities are facing budget cuts because costs for staff, insurance and special education are increasing while state aid is decreasing. This is a turn-around from previous months when education jobs increased.

(more…)

Many automotive jobs in CT may depend on the success or failure of the “Big 3″ auto companies: GM, Ford and Chrysler.

While hardly any Connecticut companies make car parts for the Big 3, about 25,000 Connecticut jobs, or 1.5 percent of overall jobs in the state, are directly tied to the automotive industry, specifically in retail sales and service. Because of this, the success of a proposed $14 million bailout plan for the Big 3 could determine whether several thousand Connecticut workers lose their jobs, according to an article by the Hartford Courant.

If the Big 3 were to shut down, Connecticut would lost about 31,200 jobs, or 2 percent of the state’s employment, through direct and indirect jobs. In comparison, Michigan - the biggest automotive state - would lose about 407,300 jobs, or 8.9 percent of its workforce, while Indiana would lose about 5 percent of its workforce and at least four states in the South and Midwest would lose 4 percent of their jobs.

(more…)

Those who have a Connecticut career with a small business may soon get some help.

The State of Connecticut recently announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration is offering federal economic injury disaster loans to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private, non-profit organizations that received damages as the result of abnormal storms last summer. Most of the storms from July 27 to Aug. 12, 2008, included high rainfall, high winds, hail, lightning and flooding.

“These loans will help Connecticut’s small businesses and non-profit organizations that were hurt financially by the wicked weather we had this summer,” Governor M. Jodi Rell said in a press release.

(more…)

A new cell phone company is creating plenty of customer service jobs in Connecticut.

Pocket, a small cell phone network based in Texas, is planning to open a Northeast call center in Bloomfield, a move that will create 400 Connecticut jobs. According to an article by WFSB, the jobs will be in everything from customer service to engineering positions. So far, 120 employees have already been hired, many who were previously out of work after losing their jobs with other local companies like Nesco.

Pocket already held two training classes, during which time 25 people began learning to become sales managers and sales associates. Currently, future employees are learning telecommunications terminology, and will soon learn how to ring up a sale. The company plans to hold a job fair in New Haven sometime in January.

(more…)

A major electric company is planning to cut Connecticut finance jobs.

General Electric Co. recently announced its plan to cut jobs and costs next year from GE Capital, based in Fairfield, Connecticut. The plan will save $2 billion in costs as the company slows lending in some businesses, considers others for potential sale and cuts jobs. The cuts, which will effect some of GE Capital’s 75,000 positions, will begin Jan. 1, 2009. Positions will be reduced as the company consolidates back offices and curbs lending in areas such as residential mortgages, according to an article by Bloomberg.

“Broadly, in a world where we think liquidity is an issue and is likely to remain an issue for a while, we’re de-emphasizing in general product lines that attract a lot of debt for the amount of earnings,” Vice Chairman Michael Neal said in the article.

(more…)

One large health insurance company is considering cutting Connecticut insurance jobs.

Aetna recently announced that some job cuts are likely. While the company is currently doing better than many of its competitors, according to an article by the Hartford Courant, some jobs will probably be cut in the company’s effort to protect its competitive edge as the economy continues to declie. Aetna provides health, dental, pharmacy, group life and disability insurance.

“We will pursue all appropriate options to reduce costs, including selective reductions in staff,” Ronald A. Williams, chairman and chief executive, said in the article.

(more…)

While AT&T Inc. recently announced its plans to make cuts, officials are doing their part to save customer service jobs in Connecticut.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal last week asked state regulators to block any cuts pending an investigative hearing. However, according to an article by the New Haven Register, regulators do not normally get involved in labor issues.

AT&T announced in October that it planned to close its Meriden call center, eliminating 60 jobs and relocating the work to Michigan. Anyone losing a job would have the option of applying for another job within the company in Connecticut.

(more…)

While seasonal jobs will be fewer this year than last because of the current economic downtrend, those seeking seasonal Connecticut retail jobs may have some help.

The National Retail Federation estimates that holiday retail spending will increase by a minor 2.2 percent, the slowest rate of growth in six years. In preparation for a slew of job seekers and not as many jobs, the Connecticut Better Business Bureau has some tips for job seekers.

First, it’s important to start your search as soon as possible, as people seeking holiday jobs will need to look harder this year than in past years to find a good position, because many jobs are being lost. It may help to identify companies you’d like to work for and which positions your skills are best suited for, and then begin sending in applications.

(more…)

Connecticut as a whole lost 2,300 jobs during September, but it is Connecticut construction jobs that have seen the biggest over-the-year loss.

As of September, the construction industry employed 67,700 workers, down from 68,000 workers during August and a decrease of 1.6 percent from last year, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The state saw a total non-farm employment of 1,702,400 workers during September, the same as this time last year, but down from 1,704,700 in August. The loss of 2,300 jobs is the second largest since January, when the state lost 2,500 jobs. Although the state has seen monthly job losses, the loss of thousands of jobs is a turn around from the recent trend of the state adding jobs when compared to last year.

(more…)

A large communications company recently announced it would cut several customer service jobs in Connecticut.

AT&T has announced its plans to move 60 customer service positions from the company’s Meriden, Connecticut office to Michigan. Connecticut state officials have backlashed against the decision, fearing the company’s local customer service department will suffer, according to an article by the Hartford Courant. The cuts come shortly after Connecticut saw the loss of 1,000 jobs.

AT&T has told maintenance administrators, who take calls from customers in need of land-line phone repairs and then dispatch crews, that the company would be closing its dispatch office in Meriden and moving their jobs to a Michigan office. The administrators will have the option of relocating to Michigan, transferring to a different department in Connecticut or taking a severance package of up to a year’s pay.

(more…)