Gen Y Avoiding Connecticut Jobs
Posted on September 17, 2008
Many members of the younger generation, or Generation Y, are moving away instead of filling jobs in Connecticut.
In a recent article by the Enfield Press, it was noted many young people are leaving Connecticut with no intention of returning. There are various reasons for the departure of youths, including a lack of jobs, expensive housing and little public services.
“Most of Connecticut’s jobs are at old-economy companies that offer opportunity primarily through hierarchical advancement,” the article notes. “The poor business climate discourages the kind of new economy startup activity dominant elsewhere. To make matters worse, The Hartford Courant reports the employers have responded to high gas prices by screening candidates based on distance.”
Although the economy continues to decline, Connecticut had a total non-farm employment of 1,704,900 in July 2008, an increase of .3 percent from last year, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a decrease from June’s employment of 1,705,900.
Most housing in Connecticut is too expensive for entry-level workers to afford, especially with a lack of jobs. The state also has the highest tax burden in the nation.
“If the cost of living is a concern, why are so many young people flocking to Boston, New York, and D.C.?” the article asks. “It is because people are consumers of place, and young people find very little to consume in Connecticut. Although Connecticut’s cost of living is comparable to these big cities, it does not offer the job opportunities, social amenities, and public services available in big cities.
“The dominance of single use development contributes to this perception,” the article adds. “It is exacerbated by a culture that many perceive as cold, stuffy, and insular. Single-use development ghettoizes retail activity, commercial activity, industrial activity, and residential activity into completely separate areas. High barriers to market entry have contributed to the long-term dominance of chain stores and restaurants.”
