When Ned Lamont became governor in January 2019, Connecticut’s construction industry was still recovering from the Great Recession. For years, construction employment had remained stagnant at roughly 60,000 workers statewide. Many skilled tradespeople left the industry or sought work elsewhere. Seven years later, the picture looks dramatically different.
Today, Connecticut’s construction workforce has grown to more than 65,200 workers, the highest level since 2008. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, these jobs generate more than $1 billion in economic activity each year. Those middle-class wages are spent in local communities—at grocery stores, restaurants, auto dealerships, and small businesses—supporting economic growth, generating tax revenue, and helping fund the public services on which Connecticut residents rely. This turnaround has strengthened both our economy and our fiscal future.
This progress has not been accidental. It is the result of deliberate choices made by a governor who understands that investing in infrastructure and the people who build it is essential to economic growth. Governor Lamont has made historic investments in transportation, schools, ports, energy, and other public infrastructure while encouraging private commercial and residential development.
The benefits are visible across the state. Repaired bridges make travel safer. Improved highways strengthen commerce. Modern schools provide better learning environments for students. Investments in energy infrastructure improve reliability and position Connecticut for future growth. These projects are not simply construction jobs; they are long-term investments that improve quality of life and make Connecticut more competitive.
Lamont has also demonstrated that economic development and worker protections can go hand in hand. Through the use of Project Labor Agreements on major projects such as the State Pier expansion in New London, the I-91/I-691/Route 15 interchange project, UConn construction projects, the Gold Star Bridge renovation, and the Bradley Airport expansion, public investments have supported local hiring, fair wages and benefits, apprenticeship opportunities, and pathways into the skilled trades. It is a model that benefits workers, taxpayers, and communities alike.
The stakes in this election are especially significant because Connecticut’s economic progress is occurring during a period of uncertainty at the federal level. While no governor can control decisions made in Washington, a strong governor can defend Connecticut’s interests when necessary.
That is exactly what Lamont did when the Trump administration repeatedly issued stop-work orders on the Revolution Wind project. Governor Lamont continued to advocate for the project until construction was allowed to proceed, helping secure a major clean-energy investment capable of generating enough electricity to power hundreds of thousands of homes.
Lamont has consistently shown that a strong economy depends on a strong middle class. He understands that investments in workers are investments in communities. The results are visible across Connecticut: more people are working, more projects are underway, and more development is being planned.
The question facing primary voters this August is not simply who should occupy the governor’s office for the next four years. It is whether Connecticut will continue pursuing a strategy that has created jobs, strengthened communities, and expanded opportunity across the state. Lamont has invested in workers, infrastructure, and economic growth. Connecticut will be stronger if that work continues.
Keith Brothers is the business manager and secretary-treasurer of the Connecticut Laborers’ District Council, a statewide affiliate of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), representing more than 6,000 members across six local unions. He is also president of the Connecticut State Building Trades Council, a statewide organization representing more than 30,000 members across 14 unions working within the building and construction industry.