Senator Larkin to Serve on New Task Force Focusing on Workforce Development

Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-On-Hudson) has been appointed by Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos to serve on a new Task Force that will focus on workforce development. The Task Force will identify ways to improve job readiness and employee training in an effort to create more jobs and grow the economy.

“Workforce development is a top priority,” said Senator Larkin. “I look forward to hearing from leaders in business, education, state and local governments, and other workforce experts in an effort to find feasible solutions to some of the problems our workforce faces today. We must do everything we can to ensure that individuals who want a job have every opportunity to obtain one.”

According to the office of Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, 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. It will 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. It will 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 and explore the job training resources available to unemployed and under-employed New Yorkers to help them achieve self-sufficiency.

“I applaud Senator Larkin’s commitment to address the nationwide skills gap”, said Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus. “I believe that his knowledge and experience will help the Task Force develop real solutions that will help create more jobs for our families and improve our economy.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 5 million job openings available nationwide as of January 2015. Despite a decrease in the unemployment rate, many of these jobs are likely to continue to go unfilled due to an ongoing skills gap.

"Supporting training programs and other workforce development strategies will allow our businesses to play a leading role in their own growth, said Lynn Cione", President of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. "This will help fill the many gaps between employer needs and talent availability."

Senators Jack Martins (R-C-I, Mineola) and George A. Amedore, Jr. (R-C-I, Rotterdam) will serve as Co-Chairs of the Task Force.