Connecticut Trade Schools Address the Skills Gap
Demand for skilled workers in Connecticut is projected to grow 8% by 2026*
The State of Connecticut has a strong economy that spans many sectors, especially manufacturing, heavy transportation and healthcare. While Connecticut is the 3rd smallest state in geographic size, it has the 4th highest population density nationwide1. This potential talent pool adds to the State’s importance as a manufacturing hub. So does the State’s location between Boston and the New York City Metropolitan area. Tradespeople are needed to keep the roads and bridges that connect these regions in safe condition, and keep vehicles maintained. And with such a dense population, skilled healthcare workers are needed to look after the State’s 3.5 million people.
Connecticut’s main Interstates provide easy access to all three Lincoln Tech campuses2. The Shelton campus is convenient to Interstate 95, while New Britain and East Windsor are located close to Interstates 84 and 91.
Campus Locations & Programs Offered
Fairfield County
Shelton, CT
Lincoln Tech’s Shelton, CT campus is home to healthcare training programs in Medical Assisting and Practical Nursing. These popular programs are experiencing a significant increase in employer demand throughout the state.
The Shelton campus also offers an Electrician Training program. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that over 1,000 additional electrician jobs will be available to be filled in Connecticut by 2026, making the program a very useful way to enter the electrical industry. The Electrician Training program introduces the student to applied math and the theory of electricity. The program then teaches the skills necessary to read blueprints, understand safety standards and follow industry regulations. The bulk of the course is a thorough hands-on education that includes both residential power applications as well as commercial wiring. By also adding programmable logic controlled devices as well as security and fire alert systems, the student becomes a well-rounded entry-level technician who is ready to apprentice with a licensed Electrician upon graduation.
Hartford County
New Britain, CT
Our campus in New Britain offers the same popular healthcare programs and Electrician Training program as our Shelton campus. New Britain also offers Lincoln’s Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Technology (HVACR) program. Students in this program not only learn about home and commercial heating and air conditioning systems repair, they also gain skills in troubleshooting and repairing commercial refrigeration systems. The employment demand for these skills, which are needed year-round, is expected to grow 7% by 2026 in the Connecticut.
East Windsor, CT
Hartford County is also home to Lincoln Tech’s East Windsor campus, which offers skilled trades programs including Lincoln’s Machining and Manufacturing Technology program. This program trains students to become skilled machinists using computerized numerically controlled equipment. Our Haas Technical Education Center (HTEC) is an ideal training environment, utilizing industry-standard Haas Automation machines. Students learn to create parts with the detail and tolerances necessary for automotive, aerospace, and medical applications. The demand for this skill is expected to grow 13% in Connecticut by 2026, in part due to the near-doubling of manufactured goods exported from Connecticut-based companies in the last 19 years3.
For those interested in home and building maintenance, East Windsor offers the same HVAC and Electrician Training programs that are featured in New Britain. The campus also offers a Welding Technology program, and like the demand for machinists in the state, welding jobs are projected to grow 13% in Connecticut by 2026.
East Windsor is also home to three automotive industry training programs, and students can choose between Automotive, Diesel and Collision Repair training. Regardless of which of the three fields a student chooses, there will be a significant employment demand for those skills in the foreseeable future. Since Connecticut is home to three major interstates, the need for vehicle maintenance and repair will continue unabated.
Three Connecticut Campuses Offer Training in 9 High-Demand Skills
The best way to determine job growth is to look directly at the official sources for occupational information. The chart below is aggregated directly from CareerOneStop.org, which obtains its data from the BLS. Visit the Career-One-Stop Occupation Profile page to reference the information provided below. Simply plug the “Occupation Code” into the “Search by Occupation” field, and then add “Connecticut” as the location. The results page will show you everything you need to know about each career field at the state and national level. The Occupation Profile Page also supplies information regarding certifications, wages and related job fields for the training you wish to pursue.
*Job Demand for Skilled Trades in Connecticut | |||||
| Lincoln Tech Program | Occupation Code | 2016 | 2026 | *Projected Growth by % | **Projected Additional Job Openings |
| Automotive Technician | 492023 | 9,680 | 9,960 | 3% | 930 |
| Collision Repair & Refinishing | 493021 | 1,800 | 1,910 | 6% | 190 |
| Diesel Technician | 493031 | 2,550 | 2,820 | 10% | 260 |
| Electrician Training | 472111 | 8,770 | 9,200 | 5% | 1,020 |
| HVAC Technician | 499021 | 4,450 | 4,780 | 7% | 470 |
| Machining & Manufacturing | 514011 | 2,300 | 2,600 | 13% | 270 |
| Medical Assisting | 319092 | 7,790 | 9,410 | 21% | 1,070 |
| Practical Nurse | 292061 | 8,020 | 8,320 | 4% | 600 |
| Welding | 514121 | 2,450 | 2,760 | 13% | 300 |
| TOTALS: | 57,640 | 62,250 | 8% | 6,600 | |
* Projected Growth is calculated using the standard growth formula: Growth = ((2026 value - 2016 value)/2016 value).
** Projected additional job openings refers to the average annual job openings due to growth and net replacement. This number factors in entry-level skilled workers replacing others that have either relocated, been promoted, switched fields or might have retired.
Closing the Skills Gap in Connecticut
The significant numbers above in potential job growth signify both the seriousness of the skills gap in the US, as well as a great opportunity to learn a trade that is in such high demand. Currently, the country does not have the skilled tradespeople that it needs, so the demand to fill career trades of all kinds goes unfulfilled. Employers are having a hard time finding enough individuals to fill their open positions, and are willing to pay a good wage to secure highly-skilled employees who are eager to work and continue to learn.
To help close the skills gap, Lincoln Tech offers 11 diverse career training options in Connecticut, all of which have positive growth in job demand. Contact Lincoln Tech’s Admissions Team through the contact form on any page, or call the campus closest to you for additional details.
1 Highest Density of US States found on the web at https://www.census.gov/popclock/, Accessed on 8/14/2020.
2 Interstate System of CT, and proximity to campus locations at https://geology.com/cities-map/connecticut.shtml. Accessed on August 14, 2020.
3 National Association of Manufacturers – Stats on CT Manufacturing Goods Exports, Figure 4 , found on the internet at https://www.nam.org/state-manufacturing-data/2020-connecticut-manufacturing-facts/. Accessed on 8/14/2020