Peter Gioia Business Quotations

It's evident that businesses are beginning to see slow but improving economic growth in both Connecticut and the U.S.. But they are concerned about what direction the Federal Reserve will take this year and how its actions could potentially and quickly turn slow growth into stagnation.

Businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to hire qualified workers to fill specific positions, especially high-tech and skilled-labor jobs, which are in demand in Connecticut. The retirement of the baby boom generation in a few years will lead to a critical shortage of workers with the skills necessary to compete in today's high-tech global economy. We need to make sure that employees entering the work force can help drive the innovation and productivity gains that our economy needs to remain competitive in the global marketplace.

The retirement of the baby boomers and a lack of qualified job candidates are threatening the ability of manufacturers to replace skilled workers and add more jobs, even as their business prospects improve.

It's going to be a comprehensive survey on business and public-policy issues, particularly those which affect Fairfield County, such as transportation, energy issues, work force and health care.

One of the things it will be used for is to raise awareness among public-policy and economic-development officials of the strength and importance of Fairfield County and to gauge the concerns of Fairfield County businesses compared to what we've seen from other businesses across the state.