A Win-Win Approach to Expanding the Regional Workforce

Dear Friend,

What’s the biggest challenge facing Fairfield County’s employers?

For many, the answer is simple: a lack of people.

Despite having a population of nearly 1 million — and with millions more living within miles of our borders — 3 in 10 Fairfield County employers report they are unable to fill entry-level openings because of talent unavailability, according to the 2023 Building Tomorrow’s Workforce report by Fairfield County’s Business Collaborative for Education Equity.

The impact is staggering: an estimated 48,000 local jobs remain unfilled and closing that gap could lift nearly 9,600 residents out of poverty while saving taxpayers almost $3 billion over the lifetime of those who step into these roles.

It would also unlock growth for the thousands of regional businesses constrained by workforce shortages.

So how do we bridge the gap?

One promising model is the Career Pathways Healthcare Pilot, an initiative we launched this spring in partnership with Nuvance Health and Connecticut State Community College (CT State).

Through this public-private collaboration, we’re equipping young adults ages 18–25 with training and support to pursue meaningful healthcare careers. And we are investing in helping stakeholders – employers, educators and nonprofits that support young people – work more collaboratively, making solutions like this easier to scale.

More than a program, Career Pathways is changing how we partner and invest in our region’s people and economy.

Participants receive sector-specific training through CT State, plus wraparound supports to help them thrive. For Nuvance, the benefit is clear: a growing pipeline of well-prepared, mission-aligned talent ready to meet the demands of a dynamic healthcare system.

Though the pilot centers on healthcare, our long-term goal is broader: to expand Career Pathways across multiple sectors — helping more young adults find stability while fueling regional economic growth.

This is the definition of a win-win.

• Young people gain access to sustainable careers.
• Colleges reach and retain more students.
• Employers build a reliable, skilled workforce.
• Communities benefit from improved services and a stronger tax base.

This is what inclusive growth looks like — a regional economy that works for everyone.

It’s not easy work — but it’s essential to a thriving Fairfield County.

We are encouraged by the funding partners investing in this first step, but with more partners we can expand Career Pathways to reach more young people, serve more sectors, and extend opportunity to even more residents.

The power to shape an inclusive economy is in our hands.

We invite you to join us in making this vision a reality.

In Community,

Mendi Blue Paca
PRESIDENT & CEO
FAIRFIELD COUNTY’S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION