Special Session on Jobs

By Mary Ann Carson

Funds are now flowing to create summer youth employment and job training in Connecticut after the legislature authorized the use of $30 million in federal stimulus spending. 

The funding, however, may be just a small step in easing the state’s eight percent unemployment, putting more people to work and helping the state to recover from the current recession. Unemployment is even higher in the cities. 

The federal-state program is expected to provide job training and actual work for an estimated 4,700 youths. Yet more than 10,000 applications for summer work have been received by the state Workforce Investment Boards and related local agencies. That means less than half of those seeking jobs will be hired. 

Separately, the legislature also took action to streamline the state teacher certification process to help bring more people into the teaching field, especially those who have experience in other fields. This is anticipated to ease the coming teacher shortage as many long-time educators approach retirement. 

The teacher legislation also will simplify the process for educators from other states to work in Connecticut. Further, it makes it easier for schools to hire teachers who have gone through the non-profit Teach for America program, which recruits college graduates to teach in inner-city schools. 

Both of these important pieces of legislation received approval belatedly in a June 19 special session, after time ran out in the regular legislative session that ended at midnight on June 3. 

Job agencies throughout the state had been awaiting the release of federal stimulus funds, so they could start providing jobs for needy young people in programs which are scheduled to begin July 6. 

The funds will be channeled through five Connecticut regional Workforce Investment Boards, which often subcontract with local job development agencies. Guidelines allow those agencies currently working with the Workforce Investment Boards to continue to do so with these federal funds.  

The intention of this federal economic stimulus funding is that it be used right away to help young people get jobs and put that money to work in their local economy. 

Though there were delays in obtaining final legislative approval for the release of this money, the end result should be some good news in the most economically depressed areas of our state. 

Regrettably, during the special session, called to allocate federal stimulus money and cover agency deficits, legislators increased the state’s deficit this fiscal year that ends June 30 by about $29 million.  To clarify:  Between now and June 30^th, Connecticut faces a nearly 1 billion dollar deficit.  Beginning July 1, Connecticut faces a nearly $9 billion dollar deficit over the next biennium.