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EB hired over 5,000 people last year and plans for more hiring in 2024: what jobs are open Matt Grahn Norwich Bulletin Pipefitters, welders, carpenters, electricians, please apply. General Dynamics Electric Boat announced the results of its 2023 hiring campaign with a plan for more hiring this year. Even after hiring 5,300 employees in 2023, EB still plans on hiring over 5,000 employees in 2024 between CT and RI, EB President Kevin Graney told a room full of legislators, military personnel, and business partners at the company’s legislative breakfast Thursday. “I remain an optimist, and EB is still hiring,” he said. Over half the hires were trades-related positions, including 1,100 in Groton and 1,900 in Quonset Point, RI. Trade hires range widely from pipefitters and welders to carpenters and electricians. Pipefitters and inside machinists are needed the most right now, Graney said. Why is Electric Boat hiring so many people? The 2023 hiring figure is slightly less than the original 5,750 target EB had been shooting for. EB’s growth in recent years has come from U.S. Navy demand. In 2019, the company was awarded $22 billion to build nine Virginia Class submarines. Multiple billion-dollar contracts for the company have also been awarded in recent years. The U.S. government is still funding more submarine building with a bill that includes $3.3 billion for submarines sitting in the U.S. House right now. Australia has also contributed $3 billion toward submarines, with the intent of buying submarines from the U.S. in the 2030s. This will be the first time the U.S. will sell submarines to another country, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney said. “They’re as serious as a heart attack about executing on the agreement,” he said. While some hires will fill positions left by retirees, there are new jobs as well. The employee base is also increasingly diverse, with 21% people of color and 17% women, Graney said. EB will continue large-scale hiring until 2033. These hires will be stable for the foreseeable future, and could see advancement. The company has 20 years of work lined up when it normally has only five years at a time, and EB secured a five-year collective bargaining agreement with the unions. The agreement includes pay raises each year. EB also has funds for retention bonuses for people who work on the submarines or supervise that work, Graney said. The “secret weapon” in EB’s hiring are career pipelines, including the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative. Since it started, EB has hired 3,000 people from the program, and others have gone to work for companies supplying EB parts. An important part of the pipeline is flexibility in the training curriculum. For example, there were safety issues among first year employees. After implementing program changes, there was a 25% reduction in first year employee injuries, Graney said. The typical new hire at the Newport News, VA facility has only received three weeks of training, compared to the eight to 10 weeks for new hires here, Graney said. Introducing trades to students through EB programs in the classroom means they’ll consider a job at EB upon graduation. Elementary students will have educational experiences showing science and math concepts, whereas middle and high school students have the opportunity to take trade classes or join internship programs in the summer, Graney said. EB celebrates their direct from high school hires with signing days, just like students going to play sports in college. The first one in 2022 had 77 hires, and last year’s had 300 hires. This year, EB aims on 600 of these hires, Graney said. What the worker needs to be able to stay at EB Though there’s plenty of work, local leaders want issues in transportation, housing and childcare to be addressed. On transportation, State Senator Heather Somers said she wanted increased support for Shore Line East because it’s an easier way to get to EB. On the company’s end, they’ve encouraged rideshare, and is trying to find solutions with the U.S. Navy and Groton for parking and traffic, Graney said. While Graney reminded everyone he’s “a shipbuilder and not a landlord,” he’s willing to work with developers on solutions. The high housing prices in the area is attractive to developers, he said. “I’ve had a lot of inquiries and a lot of discussion on what we might be able to do to help the housing situation, not only here in Connecticut, but in Rhode Island as well,” he said. Eastern Connecticut has been a childcare desert. Non-profit childcare needs state funding to keep up with inflation and for-profit doesn’t want to price their services out of reach. Graney has had discussions with organizations across the state, but also wants state funding to help keep up, he said.
EB hired over 5,000 people last year and plans for more hiring in 2024: what jobs are open
Matt Grahn Norwich Bulletin
Pipefitters, welders, carpenters, electricians, please apply.
General Dynamics Electric Boat announced the results of its 2023 hiring campaign with a plan for more hiring this year.
Even after hiring 5,300 employees in 2023, EB still plans on hiring over 5,000 employees in 2024 between CT and RI, EB President Kevin Graney told a room full of legislators, military personnel, and business partners at the company’s legislative breakfast Thursday.
“I remain an optimist, and EB is still hiring,” he said.
Over half the hires were trades-related positions, including 1,100 in Groton and 1,900 in Quonset Point, RI. Trade hires range widely from pipefitters and welders to carpenters and electricians. Pipefitters and inside machinists are needed the most right now, Graney said.
Why is Electric Boat hiring so many people? The 2023 hiring figure is slightly less than the original 5,750 target EB had been shooting for.
EB’s growth in recent years has come from U.S. Navy demand. In 2019, the company was awarded $22 billion to build nine Virginia Class submarines. Multiple billion-dollar contracts for the company have also been awarded in recent years. The U.S. government is still funding more submarine building with a bill that includes $3.3 billion for submarines sitting in the U.S. House right now. Australia has also contributed $3 billion toward submarines, with the intent of buying submarines from the U.S. in the 2030s. This will be the first time the U.S. will sell submarines to another country, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney said.
“They’re as serious as a heart attack about executing on the agreement,” he said.
While some hires will fill positions left by retirees, there are new jobs as well. The employee base is also increasingly diverse, with 21% people of color and 17% women, Graney said.
EB will continue large-scale hiring until 2033. These hires will be stable for the foreseeable future, and could see advancement. The company has 20 years of work lined up when it normally has only five years at a time, and EB secured a five-year collective bargaining agreement with the unions. The agreement includes pay raises each year. EB also has funds for retention bonuses for people who work on the submarines or supervise that work, Graney said.
The “secret weapon” in EB’s hiring are career pipelines, including the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative. Since it started, EB has hired 3,000 people from the program, and others have gone to work for companies supplying EB parts. An important part of the pipeline is flexibility in the training curriculum. For example, there were safety issues among first year employees. After implementing program changes, there was a 25% reduction in first year employee injuries, Graney said.
The typical new hire at the Newport News, VA facility has only received three weeks of training, compared to the eight to 10 weeks for new hires here, Graney said.
Introducing trades to students through EB programs in the classroom means they’ll consider a job at EB upon graduation. Elementary students will have educational experiences showing science and math concepts, whereas middle and high school students have the opportunity to take trade classes or join internship programs in the summer, Graney said.
EB celebrates their direct from high school hires with signing days, just like students going to play sports in college. The first one in 2022 had 77 hires, and last year’s had 300 hires. This year, EB aims on 600 of these hires, Graney said.
What the worker needs to be able to stay at EB Though there’s plenty of work, local leaders want issues in transportation, housing and childcare to be addressed.
On transportation, State Senator Heather Somers said she wanted increased support for Shore Line East because it’s an easier way to get to EB. On the company’s end, they’ve encouraged rideshare, and is trying to find solutions with the U.S. Navy and Groton for parking and traffic, Graney said.
While Graney reminded everyone he’s “a shipbuilder and not a landlord,” he’s willing to work with developers on solutions. The high housing prices in the area is attractive to developers, he said.
“I’ve had a lot of inquiries and a lot of discussion on what we might be able to do to help the housing situation, not only here in Connecticut, but in Rhode Island as well,” he said.
Eastern Connecticut has been a childcare desert. Non-profit childcare needs state funding to keep up with inflation and for-profit doesn’t want to price their services out of reach. Graney has had discussions with organizations across the state, but also wants state funding to help keep up, he said.