Connecticut: Tomorrow’s Economy

Connecticut is a leader in innovation, investing heavily in R&D and talent. For centuries, Connecticut has been a haven for original ideas and fresh thinking and this drive toward the future has made the state home to acclaimed scientists, inventors, and creators, producing the first functional helicopter, anesthesia, the color television, and many more amazing discoveries.

A unique mixture of pioneering start-ups, established industry leaders, and emerging innovators, alongside natural and cultural treasures, nationally ranked schools, and an exceptionally productive workforce has drawn workers and companies of all kinds to the state. These factors have resulted in Connecticut boasting the 2nd most Fortune 500 companies per capita in the U.S., with 2 Fortune 100, 14 Fortune 500, and 28 Fortune 1000 companies located throughout the state. Regardless of a company’s size, Connecticut has the talent to fuel their growth, and that talent is the cornerstone of our economy. 

Leading the Way Towards the Future

  • #2 Highest Patent Activity in the U.S.1
  • #4 Most Innovative Economy2
  • #6 in Workforce Productivity3
  • #1 State for Federal Defense Contract Spending Per Capita4
  • #7 in Foreign Direct Investment in USD5
  • 38 World-class Colleges & Universities, including Yale & UConn
  • #3 Highest Percentage of Employees with Advanced Degrees6
  • #4 for Human Capital Investment7
  • #6 Highest Concentration of Engineers8
  • #8 Most Venture Capital Dollars Per Capita9

1 Bloomberg State Innovation Index, 2020; 2 Bloomberg State Innovation Index, 2020; 3 Defined by GDP per capita, Statista, 2021; 4 Department of Defense, 2021; 5 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2017; 6 U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1Y, 2021; 7 Milken Institute, 2022; 8 Lightcast, 2022; 9 Pitchbook, U.S. Census Bureau, 2022

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Key Industries

Companies of all sizes thrive in Connecticut. Our talented workforce, connected business ecosystem, and strategic location in the Northeast has proven the right combination to create...
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Business Environment

Connecticut knows how to support business growth - be fiscally responsible, have plans, policies and strategies that are easy to navigate and invest in people. That’s...
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Foreign Direct Investment

Positioned in the epicenter of the Northeast U.S., Connecticut offers foreign-owned businesses an ideal location adjacent to New York, within two hours of Boston, and within 800...
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New York Comparison

In the first year of the pandemic, Connecticut experienced a population boom with more than 16,500 New Yorkers moving across the border to take advantage...
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Sector Snapshots

Sector Snapshots provide an in-depth look at Connecticut’s key industry clusters. These snapshots reveal industry trends and dynamics, identify concentrations of talent, and quantify the state’s...