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How submarine maker Electric Boat is sparking a manufacturing-jobs revival in Connecticut.Six years after Connecticut was hammered by record-breaking job losses during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, its manufacturing sector still has fewer jobs than it did right before the global crisis hit.However, manufacturing’s employment outlook is brightening, in large part because of a hiring surge at one of its cornerstone companies.Groton-headquartered submarine manufacturer General Dynamics Electric Boat plans to hire 8,000 people this year across its facilities in Connecticut and Rhode Island, to meet its goals for producing Virginia-class and Columbia-class ships for the U.S.The company's recruitment has helped make manufacturing one of the state’s largest job producers in the past few months.However, as Connecticut grapples with a shrinking labor force, hiring remains an acute challenge for many manufacturers.Advertisement Article continues below this ad “Despite national and international competition, the global financial crisis of 2008-2010, and the COVID pandemic, manufacturing remains one of Connecticut’s largest sectors, employing over 150,000 workers,” Patrick Flaherty, director of research for the state Department of Labor, said in a written statement.“There is evidence from job-postings data and industry associations that Connecticut would have more manufacturing jobs if employers could find all the workers they need.” Connecticut’s estimated gain of 5,700 jobs in April included an increase of 1,200 in manufacturing, according to the Department of Labor’s latest jobs report, which was released Thursday.The jobs uptick in manufacturing ranked second among Connecticut’s 10 economic sectors, after an addition of 2,600 positions in professional and business services.Manufacturing employment in the state has increased in each of the first four months of 2026, equal to a cumulative addition of 3,500 jobs.Those gains have followed a disappointing 2025 in which the sector lost about 3,000 positions in the state.Electric Boat’s recent events include a job fair at Crystal Mall in Waterford, a property that it will convert into its own facility after acquiring it last year.More than 1,000 people attended the event.Electric Boat officials said at the gathering that the company planned to make about 800 job offers to those who attended.In total, Electric Boat has more than 26,000 employees, including about 16,000 based in Connecticut.Advertisement Article continues below this ad More Information A hiring surge at General Dynamics Electric Boat contributed to an increase in manufacturing employment in Connecticut in early 2026, after the sector experienced a decline last year.However, the state still needs to add more than 6,000 manufacturing jobs to match the sector’s in-state total of about 161,000 in early 2020.January 2025: 154,200 February 2025: 153,800 March 2025: 153,700 April 2025: 153,300 May 2025: 150,100 June 2025: 152,700 July 2025: 152,100 August 2025: 152,100 September 2025: 152,100 October 2025: 151,500 November 2025: 151,800 December 2025: 151,200 January 2026: 152,200 February 2026: 152,700 March 2026: 153,500 April 2026 (estimate): 154,700 Source: Connecticut Department of Labor “It’s a stable job, and I can make my family proud,” said Groton resident Pierce DeJesus, who received an on-the-spot offer for a welding position.“I have family that works here.I’ve been trying to apply for a few years now, and I finally got the opportunity to get the job.” Want more Norwalk Hour?Among other events, Electric Boat participated in a Department of Labor-hosted job fair on May 12 at Ora M.Mason Library in West Haven.Advertisement Article continues below this ad “It’s a good career opportunity with a venerable, stable company,” West Haven resident Jeff Gray, who works in aviation, said at the fair, after landing an interview for an operations-supervisor position with Electric Boat.As it pursues its ambitious hiring goals, Electric Boat faces a tight labor market.Connecticut’s labor force, which includes workers and unemployed people looking for work, declined by approximately 28,000 people, or about 1%, between April 2025 and April 2026, according to Department of Labor data.Among other signs of the labor crunch, 82% of manufacturers reported difficulty finding and retaining workers, with skills gaps comprising the greatest challenge, according to the Connecticut Business & Industry Association’s 2025 Manufacturing Report.Widespread retirements in the sector during and after the pandemic have heightened the need for newcomers.The worker shortage is arguably the main reason for Connecticut’s manufacturing job levels still lagging pre-pandemic tallies.There were an estimated 154,700 manufacturing jobs in the state last month — down by more than 6,000 positions, or 4%, from February 2020, the last month before the state recorded a COVID case.Advertisement Article continues below this ad Department of Labor officials said that supporting workforce development at Electric Boat and other manufacturers is one of their top priorities.“The Connecticut Department of Labor and its partners provide many training opportunities for workers of all ages to enter the manufacturing workforce, either as a first job or a career change,” Flaherty said.“Given Connecticut’s retirement rate, the workforce pipeline is critical to job growth.” Like other industries, the manufacturing sector’s challenges also include periodic layoffs.Nearly three months ago, toolmaker Stanley Black & Decker announced that it would close the tape-measure factory in its home city of New Britain and lay off the approximately 300 employees who worked there.In a written statement announcing the decision, Stanley officials cited declining demand for single-sided tape measures.They also said that the company’s headquarters would remain at 1000 Stanley Drive, a few blocks from the plant.A notice sent in early March to the Department of Labor indicated that 287 of the layoffs would be carried out between May 4 and May 18.A message left this week for a Stanley spokesperson that inquired whether the company had followed that schedule for making the job cuts, while also asking for confirmation of the facility’s closing date, was not returned.Advertisement Article continues below this ad Unemployment in Connecticut has ticked up about one percentage point in the past year, but it remains less than half its peak of about 12% in 2020 when the state was gripped by COVID-related shutdowns.The state’s unemployment rate was 5% last month, compared with a national level of 4.3%.Department of Labor officials attributed the unemployment increase mainly to more people entering the job market.Only people looking for work are counted in the unemployment rate.“For Connecticut to truly see sustained, meaningful growth, it’s critical that state policymakers focus on making the state a more affordable and attractive place to live, work and do business,” Chris DiPentima, CEO and president of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, said in a written statement about the state’s latest job report.“During the legislative session, those policymakers failed to act on opportunities to address health care, housing and energy costs.Until that happens, Connecticut’s affordability crisis will keep holding our economy back.”