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People

 In today’s economy, people matter. 

Video courtesy of CPTV.  Turn on your volume!

In today’s economy, people matter.  Our people are key to Metro Hartford’s economic competitiveness and continued prosperity.

Today’s economy is a global economy.  Technology and communication make it possible for companies locate pretty much anywhere these days.

Today’s economy is a knowledge economy.  The best jobs go where people are educated, creative, innovative, ambitious and hard-working.  A talented, skilled workforce is essential to attracting new businesses to the region, and for existing businesses to grow.

Metro Hartford won’t thrive unless we continuously cultivate the talented, educated people that leading businesses want to hire.  We need to work together to make Metro Hartford thrive.

Did you know...?

• Connecticut is one the country’s most educated states.  In 1990, Connecticut was tied for first with Massachusetts for having the greatest percentage of people with college degrees.  But we’re slipping.  By 2004 our rank dropped to 6th. 

• Connecticut is one of the country's smartest states.  On average, our elementary and secondary students are doing well academically.  On the Connecticut Mastery Tests for reading, 65% of 8th graders across the state score at goal or higher.  But in Hartford and New Britain, only 31% do. 

• The disparities are worse for 8th grade CMT math scores.  While 56% of 8th graders across the state score at goal or higher, only 20% do in Hartford and New Britain. 

• Those are startling numbers, especially considering that by 2020 economists predict that 40% of our workforce will come from urban areas. 

• Consider too that one of Connecticut's top exports is educated young people.  Priced out of the housing market and unattracted to living in Connecticut's cities, too many well-educated young people leave the state after going to high school or college here. 

• In the 1990s, Connecticut lost a greater percentage of 18-35 year olds than any other state. We're doing a lousy job of developing a new generation of young adults with energy and talent who put down roots here.

We need to work together to develop, attract and support skilled, productive people to fill jobs, create new enterprises, and be actively engaged in our community. 

We need to work together to make
Metro Hartford thrive.

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