Governor Hochul Announces New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development

0

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the creation of the New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development, which will be responsible for improving workforce development programs and practices. government to better align with the needs and priorities of today’s employers. The Governor first proposed the new office in his State of the State address earlier this year and committed funding that was approved in the fiscal year 2023 budget. Governor Hochul is delivering on her commitment to build the skills and talents of New York’s workforce and help grow the economy. The $350 million investment in state funding will support a large-scale, historic and coordinated investment in workforce development across state agencies and authorities and includes $150 million multi-year funding for new grant programs that will primarily support employer-led, highly skilled labor force training. programs.

“New Yorkers continue to struggle to find work and opportunity due to the economic disruption of the pandemic,” Governor Hochul said. “This issue is personal to me – I have seen steel mills close, leaving workers with nowhere to go. With our brand new Office of Strategic Workforce Development, we are doubling down on our commitment to help train and to connect New Yorkers with the good-paying jobs of the future.”

Hope Knight, Acting Empire State Development Commissioner and President and CEO Designate, said: “The new Office of Strategic Workforce Development will optimize ESD’s relationships with industries and employers across the state to generate new opportunities for New Yorkers and encourage regional economic growth. Working with our state university system and partner agencies, we can provide businesses with a pool of talent to catalyze new investment across the state.”

The Office of Strategic Workforce Development will operate as part of Empire State Development (ESD), marking a watershed shift in workforce development policy to a laser-centric policy for meet the labor needs of the fastest growing sectors of the state while generating new economic opportunities for the UN. /underemployed and underrepresented workers. ESD will manage the Office in close coordination with partner agencies, including the Department of Labor, State University of New York, and City University of New York, among others with significant expertise and experience in delivering successful workforce training programs. The Office will leverage ESD’s relationships with employers across the state and its position as a trusted partner in the business community to help quickly identify employer needs and train New Yorkers to meet those needs. .

To kick off this effort, New York State – in partnership with the Business Council of New York State – has developed a comprehensive online survey to solicit critical feedback from businesses on the skills needed for workers to succeed in the workplace. today’s complex economy, and how New York can prepare and position its workforce to better meet business needs. This demand-driven approach will ensure that New York has access to real-time information about in-demand jobs and skills to inform its statewide and regional workforce development efforts. region.

Importantly, ESD will work hand-in-hand with the state’s 10 Regional Economic Development Councils, who will engage with local stakeholders and help identify specific skills and industries to prioritize in each region of the post-economy. -pandemic. The local expertise of regional councils will help ensure that each region’s workforce training programs are aware of current and changing employer needs and enable local training providers to better align their programs with these. priorities.

In addition to promoting an industry-focused strategy, ESD will also introduce and administer $150 million in new programs, primarily aimed at meeting the needs of highly skilled employers to fill in-demand jobs and complement industry development efforts. the state’s existing workforce. This program will include performance-based grants for successful workforce training providers in placing trainees in quality jobs, flexible operating funds to help providers cover the costs of administering the program and capital funding to enable suppliers to make essential capital purchases and/or upgrades to their training facilities. To ensure the flexibility needed to meet changing needs, funding will be available in real time and on an ongoing basis to generate a pool of new workers for industries of regional importance. As these new programs are expected to launch later this year, the Office will also establish and maintain metrics to track the implementation and success of the programs.

ESD is currently conducting an extensive search for Bureau personnel to implement and lead the state’s ambitious efforts.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said: “New York State’s economy is growing and businesses need a skilled workforce to maintain this strong momentum. NYS DOL regularly surveys businesses across the state to assess their needs and support their success. From recorded apprenticeships and highly successful job fairs to online skills enhancement opportunities through Coursera and many other resources, the New York State Department of Labor is here to help. ensure that New Yorkers across the state receive the quality training they need to truly meet the needs of business and succeed in our robust economy.Development agencies and others, will create great opportunities for New Yorkers. -Yorkers in all parts of the state.”

Acting SUNY Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley said: “Public higher education has long been the backbone of New York State’s workforce, training the next generation of engineers, artists, nurses, and critical thinkers of all ages. There is a demand for highly skilled workers nationwide, and through SUNY Educational Opportunity Centers and 64 campuses across the state, we are retraining and upskilling New Yorkers, leading them to rewarding jobs.I commend Governor Kathy Hochul for building on the state’s Workforce Development Strategy, dedicating resources, and being the catalyst for future private and public partnership to address the demands of the new workforce landscape.I look forward to working closely with Empire State Development to help New Yorkers realize their dreams.

CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said: “New York’s post-pandemic economic recovery depends on workers who have the specialized skills and preparation to meet the needs of employers in emerging industries and in-demand fields. This initiative will provide invaluable opportunities for career development and labor -work to CUNY students, enabling them to pursue meaningful and lucrative careers in the sectors most in demand.We thank Governor Hochul for her demonstrated commitment to CUNY, and we look forward to partnering with the new Office of Strategic Development workforce to support and help drive New York’s sustained economic growth.”

State Senator Anna M. Kaplan said: “The success of our economic recovery depends on our ability to meet the needs of employers with a local workforce prepared for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Addressing these needs requires a focused and well-coordinated approach to workforce development that we will eventually have in New York State under the new Office of Strategic Workforce Development. I am grateful for Governor Hochul’s leadership in bringing forward this vital effort, and I am proud to have supported this new initiative within the state budget.

Assemblyman Harry Bronson said“Workforce development is economic development. It’s more than just a philosophy, and I’m proud that New York State has committed its resources to creating the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot forget the workforce that got us through the early days of the pandemic. maintained essential services and sacrificed for our communities It quickly became clear that a well-prepared workforce was our best line of defense against COVID-19 and that strategic investments in our workforce work were long overdue. Moving this new office forward will help connect workforce development programs and new emerging industries across our state. I have been a long-time supporter of this model, and I thank Governor Hoch ul for this innovative approach as we push for an inclusive and equitable recovery for families in New York State.”

Heather Briccetti, Esq., President and CEO of the Business Council of New York State, said: “We commend Governor Hochul for overhauling the state’s approach to workforce development to start with business and industry, and focusing on workforce solutions. regional and sectoral work for SOEs The new Office of Strategic Workforce Development will close the growing gap between available jobs and skilled workers, while creating a dynamic skilled workforce to growing industries in the state, and with promising career paths.”

Share.

Comments are closed.