Champions for Change: Marietta Lee

Marietta Lee, COO of The Lee Company, says the family owned business is struggling to fill open positions.

“We need to fund our trade schools,” she says. “We need to get more training out to the people looking for jobs. We need more skilled workers.”

Lee says companies like the Westbrook-based manufacturer would benefit from a proposal to exempt workforce training programs from the state sales and use tax.

Connecticut’s labor force has declined by 71,400 people since February 2020—half the regional decline and a staggering 41% of national losses.

CBIA is calling for lawmakers to help solve the labor shortage crisis through a series of wide-ranging measures.