Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM| JANUARY 9, 2023 25 reward outcomes and performance." Flaks said HHC has been moving from a facility-based model to a networked sys- tem of care, involving greater investment and reliance on community-based and employed clinicians, and accepting payment based on defined out- comes, like the measures required by Medicaid. Flaks said the trend "will accelerate and be aided by new technologies that help patients get exactly the right care, at the right time, in the most effective — and affordable — manner." Employee support services Worker mental health remains a big issue coming out of the pan- demic and employers that want to retain workers amid the labor short- age need to focus on employee support services. WellSpark Health's Wachtelhausen said employers must "empathize with these employees and provide the proper support and resources they need to perform at their jobs while still being able to care for their loved ones and avoid burnout." Companies should revisit paid time off policies and other specialty bene- fits such as child-care and eldercare reimbursements to ensure they meet the modern, post-pandemic work- force, she said. Supervisors, Wachtelhausen added, must also embrace flexibility, and allow remote work and promote telehealth services when needed. "This approach will lead to improved organizational culture, hap- pier employees, and better results," she said. Mark Auletta is the chief operating officer of Bristol aircraft test equipment manufacturer Bauer Inc. HBJ PHOTO | STEVE LASCHEVER Labor shortage, inflation will weigh heavily on CT manufacturers in 2023 By Skyler Frazer sfrazer@hartfordbusiness.com A s Connecticut manufacturers look to 2023, the labor short- age will continue to be a top- of-mind issue. While Connecticut manufacturers added 4,600 jobs through the first 11 months of 2022, the industry has thousands of unfilled positions as the aerospace and defense sector in par- ticular experience growth from major government contracts, including Elec- tric Boat's multibillion-dollar deal with the U.S. Navy to build a new fleet of ballistic missile submarines. That's feeding business to suppli- ers across the state. According to a survey released by the Connecticut Business & Indus- try Association in October, 87% of the state's manufacturers report difficulty finding and/or retaining employees, and 44% say the lack of skilled applicants is the greatest obstacle to growth. Of the state's approximately 100,000 open positions, more than 10% come from the manufacturing sector, according to the CBIA. In addition to the skilled labor shortage, manufacturers will also continue to face inflation and sup- ply chain challenges. The Hartford Business Journal spoke to several manufacturing leaders about what to expect in 2023. Here's what they had to say. Labor concerns Connecticut Chief Manufacturing Officer Paul Lavoie said the lack of an available workforce will continue to limit manufacturing growth next year, and the state is still looking at ways to address labor shortages. For example, the Lamont admin- istration last summer launched the $70-million CareerConneCT pro- gram, which offers free job training in high-demand industries, including manufacturing, and promises to grad- uate workers quickly for immediately available jobs. "We are working on multiple fronts to get a trained workforce in manu- facturing and we are confident we will make significant progress in 2023," Lavoie said about the state's efforts. Mark Auletta, chief operating officer of Bristol aircraft test equip- ment manufacturer Bauer Inc., said the state will continue to foster relationships with trade schools and community colleges, particularly those with advanced manufacturing programs. "The availability of talent, both engineering and trades, will remain scarce, particularly experienced staff," Auletta said. "At the same time, retention is critical but also a challenge as larger companies are pushing up the average salary." Jason Howey, CEO of New Britain-based medical device components manufacturer OKAY Industries, said his company has between 15 to 20 open positions but it's had difficulty finding qualified employees. He said hiring, training and reten- tion must be a focus for the state's manufacturing sector in 2023. "We've been hearing all over the place that there's just not enough skilled workers, which is greatly INDUSTRY OUTLOOK | MANUFACTURING HERE'S WHERE CT MANUFACTURERS ARE MAKING THEIR BIGGEST INVESTMENTS* Employee retention — 22% Property/facilities — 21% New technology — 18% Other capital assets — 12% Employee training — 9% Research & development — 7% Recruiting qualified workers — 6% *The data and percentages are from the Connecticut Business & Industry Association's 2022 CT Manufacturing Report, which surveyed 218 Connecticut manufacturers on various issues, including where they were investing their capital. Source: CBIA 2022 CT Manufacturing Report Roberta Wachtelhausen INDUSTRY OUTLOOK | HEALTH CARE

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