NORWICH, Conn. (NBC CT, June 21, 2018) –

Electric Boat (EB) is on a hiring surge to meet the demand of building multiple submarines a year. Their suppliers also need manufacturers to meet that demand – which is good for many Connecticut students looking for a manufacturing job right out of school.

“EB is actively seeking our students,” said Marjorie Valentin, the Associate Dean of Division of Workforce and Community Education at Three Rivers Community College.

Along with having for-credit students, they’re also putting people through the Eastern Connecticut Manufacturing Pipeline – an initiative to address the hiring needs of EB, the Eastern Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (EAMA), and other manufacturers at no-cost to trainees.

“Over the past 26 months we’ve served 400 people. Over 90 percent have gotten jobs whether it be at EB or at their supply chain,” Valentin said.

In her almost 20 years, there’s more for-credit students and pipeline students hired out of college this year than any other year.

“When this friend went through, she came back with all the information from EB…the pay rates and all that. I was like, yeah I need to get in on this,” said Deb Moro of Norwich.

Moro is a pipeline student through Three Rivers. The wife and mom of two is seeking a career change where she knows there’s a need.

“It’ll be a big help but I have fun in here and if I can get paid to have fun, then yes please,” Moro said.

Companies are also looking at high school students, like those at Grasso Technical High School.

Thomas Allen is the head of the Mechanical Design and Engineering Technology Department and said over the past two years, all of his seniors were offered jobs. Plus, part of the curriculum is geared toward EB.

“We really can’t get enough students at this point to train in order to fill the required positions,” Allen said.

Grasso Tech is also starting a welding program in fall of 2019. It would take EB’s requirements directly to the school, which would make students prime candidates to be hired by the company.

Statistics send by CT Department of Labor Communications Director Nancy Steffens reveal from May 2017 to May 2018 there’s been an increase in 4,1000 manufacturing jobs, it’s the third highest job creator – only health care and social assistance are above it – and there will eventually be more manufacturing job opening as companies hire to replace workers who have retired or are nearing retirement age.

— By Heather Burian, NBC CT

The original story can be found here: ‘Students Finding Manufacturing Jobs in Connecticut Right Out of School‘