Senator Young Appointed to Senate's Workforce Development Task Force

Senator, Task Force members, will develop ways to promote private sector job growth

ALBANY – Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I–Olean) has been appointed to the Senate’s new Task Force on Workforce Development. Members of the task force will gather input from leaders in business, education, state and local governments, as well as workforce development experts, as they review existing state programs designed to support job seekers and explore new ways to boost private sector employment and create good-paying jobs.

Earlier this year, Senator Young and her Republican Colleagues passed a budget resolution supporting the restoration of $7 million in funding for the Workforce Development Institute (WDI), a not-for-profit that works with businesses across the state to provide focused workforce training and transition support services for existing employees to help prevent jobs from being outsourced to other states. The Senate’s task force will continue efforts to support programs that improve employee readiness, meet the needs of private sector employers, and create good-paying jobs that grow New York’s economy.

“New York State needs to be enacting policies that grow our economy, boost jobs and support workers in every region. Having a skilled workforce ready to meet the needs of existing employers is essential to economic growth and prosperity. A well trained workforce also helps us attract new and innovative manufactures and businesses that will bring with them good paying jobs for area residents,” said Senator Young.

“Supporting job creation is at the forefront of the Senate’s agenda and our task force will ensure New York continues to meet the demands of employers, and identifies additional resources that could help grow our economy. Our region has a strong manufacturing history and providing residents the skills they need, to meet the latest demands of employers, will ensure this continues,” Senator Young said.

As of January 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there were 5 million job openings with many of these unfilled due to an ongoing skills gap. The Senate’s task force aims to identify programs like WDI, that will provide residents the necessary skills and tools to fill these demands and make New York a more attractive business climate.

In recent months, WDI has assisted numerous local manufactures to establish educational programs, provide employees with needed training and help for the purchase of essential supplies.

“WDI has been instrumental in sustaining and growing manufacturing jobs in the Southern Tier and other areas of the state, as well as providing career transition services for employees who have been laid off. Their partnerships with employers, local educators and others have gone a long way toward improving our state’s manufacturing economy. Now my colleagues and I will work to determine what other programs and policies we can implement to provide hardworking New Yorkers with additional employment opportunities,” Senator Young said.