In this Monday, July 29, 2019, photo Stop & Shop employee Sonja Foxwell shows some of the reusable bags and community bags in Wallingford, Conn.
DAVE ZAJAC / Associated PressWith mass layoffs impacting some of largest companies in the country, Connecticut is surging ahead with employment numbers rising in the state by 32,100 jobs (or 2 percent) between December 2021 and 2022.
In the Connecticut Department of Labor's latest job report, employment has been steadily rising in the past year though the state did see a .1 percent dip in employment between November 2022 and December 2022.
"In 2022, Connecticut saw strong job gains, an expanding labor force, and declines in unemployment," said Patrick Flaherty, Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor, in the report. "The Federal Reserve is attempting to slow the national economy to lower inflation, and Connecticut is participating in that slowdown as job growth slowed toward the end of the year. However, the low level of unemployment claims and the high level of job openings indicate that if the nation is able to avoid recession, Connecticut will see continued job gains in 2023."
As the country heads into an uncertain fiscal year, with talks of a recession, many companies are still hiring. And some companies in Connecticut are actively hiring for hundreds of jobs in the state.
Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn. Anchored by Yale-New Haven Health and Yale University, the New Haven County economy led Connecticut's 2021 rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, with many employers still struggling at the end of 2022 to fill all jobs for available work.
One of the largest employers in the state, Yale New Haven Health, is hiring for more than 2,400 open positions across its health system. Job locations range from Greenwich to Mystic, and include some opportunities in New York and Rhode Island.
Most jobs listed with Yale New Haven Health are fully in-person, though there are some remote and hybrid job openings.
During the past year, Yale New Haven Health has significantly expanded its footprint in the state by acquiring a number of different hospitals. In October, the hospital system entered into a $400 million deal to acquire Waterbury Hospital, Manchester Memorial and Rockville General Hospital; it additionally acquired Visiting Nurse and Health Services of CT and Prospect Provider Group of Connecticut, which is a physicians group.
A Stop & Shop supermarket on Highland Avenue in Cheshire.
The New England-based grocer is hiring 700 part-time roles and full-time roles across its 88 Connecticut locations. Stop & Shop is currently hiring for roles in eCommerce, bakery, deli, grocery, seafood and produce departments; it is also hiring to fill overnight crew positions.
"At Stop & Shop, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace. We believe that the voices of our associates should reflect a diverse set of ideas, experiences and backgrounds. Many members of Stop & Shop’s leadership team started as store associates. The roles we offer at Stop & Shop are more than jobs, they are growth opportunities," said Julie Pinard, Director of Human Resources for Stop & Shop, in a press release.
The Cigna Corp. logo
Cigna, the Bloomfield-based healthcare and insurance organization, is hiring for more than 500 positions. There are both in-person and remote opportunities open across a number of different specialties that range from clinical dieticians to business analysts.
More than 70,000 employees are employed by Cigna and its health services business line, Evernorth Health Services. This month, Cigna announced that it would be rebranding its holding company name to The Cigna Group in order to reflect its growing business portfolio.
"Over the last several years, we've built a diverse portfolio of leading capabilities to serve more people across our businesses," said Lou Aversano, The Cigna Group's chief brand and marketing officer, in a press release. "Now, we are evolving our brand architecture to reflect how we are serving the breadth of our relationships today and into the future."
A file photo of an F135 engine on a Pratt & Whitney assembly line.
Aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney is hiring for more than 400 positions in Connecticut. The East Hartford-based organization is hiring for both hybrid and onsite positions.
Most positions are based out of its East Hartford campus.
Another aerospace company, Lockheed Martin, which operates Sikorsky, made business headlines when it announced in January that it would be laying off 800 jobs in its "rotary and mission systems division." An exact number of Connecticut employees impacted by the layoffs was not divulged by the company.
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut.
The Hartford investment and insurance company is hiring for almost 100 positions across Connecticut. Similar to most large companies, The Hartford offers both on-site and remote employment opportunities. Open positions call for skills that range from underwriting to software engineering.
The Hartford, which employees over 18,000 individuals, is a Fortune 500 company that made $22.4 billion in revenue in 2021, according to its website.
Last month, The Hartford was named to CNBC's JUST 100 list, which highlights companies who have made a significant impact socially, environmentally and economically.