A new survey of manufacturers released Tuesday indicate economic conditions are easing in Connecticut.

While 47 percent of manufacturers rated the Connecticut economy as only fair, and a sizeable 30 percent saw it as poor, more business executives were optimistic than in the previous survey, said the Manufacturing Alliance of Connecticut. The organization's third annual survey had 22 percent saying economic conditions were good, compared with only 17 percent last year.

The survey found, however that state manufacturers are finding it difficult to fill jobs. Companies identified “lack of qualified candidates” and “special skills needed” as the biggest employment challenges.

But 51 percent of companies in the survey reported increasing their employment levels this year compared with 2014. And 77 percent reported sales increases at least as robust as in the previous year, up from 68 percent reporting the same last year.

The full survey can be found at http://mact.org.