Changing World of Work Could Mean Opportunities for Connecticut's Cities

The world, as they say, is changing.  And that is as true in the workplace as it is in any other aspect of life.  Recent reports and data analysis suggests that the Land of Steady Habits, known also as Connecticut, may stand to benefit, even in the shadow of major metropolises and with its largest cities not nearly in the range of the nation’s most populated.

A report this month by Airbnb, How Communities Can Benefit From Remote Workers, gathered some of the numbers and narratives:

“In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of workers — and their families — are no longer tethered to a physical office. According to Gartner, Inc., the share of knowledge workers working remotely nearly doubled between 2019 and 2021, and 16 percent of companies worldwide are now fully remote.

According to Forbes, 17 percent of paid job listings on LinkedIn in July 2022 were for remote work listings, which drew a majority of applications (54%), a steep rise from January 2020, when remote jobs made up just 2 percent of paid listings and attracted just 3 percent of applicants.”

According to McKinsey’s May 2022 American Opportunity Survey, 58 percent of Americans report having the opportunity to work from home at least one day a week, and 35 percent report having the option to work from home five days a week.”

The report also pointed out that “the shift toward remote work has not only changed the way individual families live and work, but also how governments approach economic development. Where once policy-makers had to fight to attract entire companies (or even industries), today governments — as well as their destination marketing organization partners — must consider how to recruit individuals and families who can work remotely and how to ensure that the benefits of remote work are felt by the wider community.”

An article earlier this year on the website wayviator.com pointed out that “ Cities used to have to depend on the power of… local employers, local jobs, and local industries when promoting their region as a place to live and work. Now, the source of jobs and income has been radically uncoupled from literal physical proximity. Any town or region can promote itself as a great place to live  on its own merits.”

The largest city in Connecticut, according to published reports, is Bridgeport, with a population of 148,333. Bridgeport is the 183rd largest city in the US. The second largest city is Stamford, with a population of 136,309, and is the 204th largest city in the US.  New Haven, Hartford and Waterbury, completing Connecticut’s top five by population, each with more than 100,000 residents, are lower down the national population-ranked list.

Connecticut’s Economic Development Action Plan, finalized a year ago in September 2021, rests on four pillars: 

• Workforce – Broaden the base of skilled workers to meet increasing industry demand

• Communities – Attract and retain talent by investing in vibrant and affordable communities for all

• Innovation – Support growth and generate inclusive economic opportunity within CT’s most innovative and specialized industries

• Business Environment – Improve CT’s environment and reputation for starting and growing businesses

The state’s Workforce Strategic Plan notes that 26% of Connecticut’s labor force is age 55+ and likely to retire soon, compared to 22% nationally, and points out that Connecticut ranks 4th in the nation for advanced degrees among the 25+ population.

The website of the Metro Hartford Alliance indicates that “Success depends on talent. One of the MetroHartford Alliance’s top priorities is recruiting and retaining talented individuals of all ages to contribute to the Hartford Region.”

When the editors at U.S. News & World Report sifted through the job market, salaries, housing prices, unemployment rate, air quality, and numerous other data to tally their list of 150 Best Places to Live, published this past Spring, Hartford ranked No. 47 in the 2022-2023 ranking, up six slots from the magazine's 2021 survey. New Haven, No. 114 in the current rankings, fell three rungs from last year's rankings.  In the magazine’s rankings for Best Places to Live for Quality of Life, Connecticut’s Capital City ranked #11 nationally.