Senator Martins Appointed Co-Chairman of New Task Force on Workforce Development

Task Force Will Help Identify Ways to Improve Employee Training and Readiness to Promote Private Sector Growth

     Senator Jack M. Martins (R-7th Senate District) has been appointed Co-Chairman of a new Senate Task Force on Workforce Development. The Task Force will review the state’s existing programs designed to train both job seekers and existing employees for current and prospective employment opportunities, as well as help develop new initiatives to improve employee readiness, meet the needs of private sector employers, and create well-paying jobs to grow New York’s economy.

      “Every New Yorker who wants a job should have one. Developing a skilled workforce and training people for high-demand jobs benefits us all – workers, employers, and our economy as a whole. Most importantly, it benefits families and communities. Connecting people to jobs will be our priority as we move forward. Partnering with labor, education and business, I am confident we can develop initiatives which will continue growing our economy and provide greater opportunities for workers and employers,” said Senator Martins, who is also Chairman of the Senate’s Labor Committee.

      The Task Force members will seek input from leaders in business, education, state and local governments, and other workforce experts to develop a better process to connect people who are getting trained with the open jobs that are available.

      The Task Force will: examine the barriers and the incentives for institutions and businesses to assist students and existing employees in the acquisition of new skills; review state education policies to maximize opportunities for high school and college students to obtain industry certifications and take career-themed courses for jobs that are most in demand; discuss how to improve the sharing of information about regional and statewide workforce trends to ensure job training programs are targeting the skills needed by employers; explore the job training resources available to unemployed and under-employed New Yorkers to help them achieve self-sufficiency; and identify potential opportunities for additional collaboration between education and business communities.