STRATFORD - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today called for more job training resources like the CTWorks Career Coach for Connecticut’s manufacturing base. DeLauro toured the coach and heard from representatives of Straton Industries, a Stratford-based manufacturer, about their efforts to enhance worker training capabilities.

“The CTWorks Career Coach is an innovative project that provides services critical to building a strong, qualified workforce,” said DeLauro. “It helps employers find skilled workers and helps employees seeking access to career development services enhance their skills and find work. Local manufacturers need more resources like this.”

The Coach is a mobile job training unit that provides services to unemployed and underemployed individuals seeking jobs and job search assistance at no cost. It provides employers like Straton with a one-stop location for staff recruitment, staff development, skills training and candidate screening.

Over 80 percent of manufacturers reported a shortage of highly qualified applicants according to a recent National Association of Manufacturers survey. The manufacturing sector is at a 53-year employment low with 2.5 million factory jobs lost in this country - 40,000 in Connecticut alone. An estimated 42 percent of all job growth over the next 6 years will required some sort of post-secondary education like college or vocational training.

“We should be increasing investment in the American workforce to promote a lifetime of learning,” said DeLauro. “Encouraging public-private partnerships like the Career Coach will allow employees to enhance their skill sets and advance in their careers. Congress should provide increased funding for job training resources like the Coach.”

Federal job training budgets have dropped $597 million over the last four years. The funding cuts happened while the economy was already in a downturn.

Straton Industries is a precision machining facility serving the aerospace, medical, consumer product and automotive industries. It is a privately held company founded in 1961 by Edward J. Cremin. Ed remains active in the company as CEO today.

The CTWorks Career Coach is a project of The WorkPlace, Inc. and is operated by Career Resources. It is available on a rental or membership basis for use by employers, community organizations, and event planners wishing to provide services to assist people in their employment-related needs. The WorkPlace, Inc. builds projects that help people prepare for careers and strengthens the workforce for employers.