John Robinson: What Happened to the Graphic Arts Industry

New England has experienced more shrinkage in graphics arts employment than perhaps any other region of the country. In the greater New Haven area of Connecticut, there were over 50 graphic arts companies “of size” (more than 25 employees) 35 years ago and another 100 smaller firms. While the majority of these 50 larger shops were printers, included among them were typesetting companies, color separation and pre-press companies, specialty finishing companies, and trade binders. Today that total of 150 firms employing over 3,000 people has shrunk to fewer than 20 graphics arts companies employing fewer than 300 people total, with only one of those companies, GHP, employing over 25 employees. There is no longer a single typesetting company, color separation company, specialty finishing company, or trade binder in the greater New Haven area.