Preparing New York’s Workforce for Jobs of the Future
Governor Hochul recently announced a $350 million investment in workforce development across New York State, creating the Office of Strategic Workforce Development to apply a new approach to workforce development – one that engages local experts to identify growing industries in need of workers, with a focus on creating opportunities for all New Yorkers. This funding will support wide-reaching investment in workforce development across state agencies and includes $150 million in new multi-year funding for new grant programs that will primarily support employer-driven, high skilled workforce training programs.
A Holistic Approach to Workforce Development
New York’s investment in workforce development will foster collaboration among state agency partners, as well as with industry, employers, institutions of higher education, and workforce trainers. This new, holistic approach to workforce development will help New York achieve key programmatic goals, including:
- Expanding access to training and placement support for underserved communities that have traditionally faced barriers to employment
- Ensuring New York’s workforce is equipped with skills required to meet the needs of businesses in high-growth, tradable sectors across the State
- Creating pathways for unemployed and underemployed New Yorkers to access good jobs that provide economic security and opportunities for career growth
- Sustaining talent pipelines for essential industries experiencing growing needs and high attrition rates, such health care, education, and civil service
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$350 Million
Funding for Workforce Development -
6
State Agencies
Targeted Investments in New York's Workforce
The $350M investment in workforce development provides funding for additional programs across four focus areas. Visit the pages below to learn more about current and upcoming opportunities.
- Advancing Workforce Skills for All Abilities
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New York seeks to empower all residents to contribute their strengths and develop the skills needed to succeed in one’s desired career. Expanding funding for training programs will help make New York State a model for the employment of workers with disabilities.
- Education Workforce Investment
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New York State seeks to rebuild its teacher workforce – including through recruiting and retaining teachers throughout the state to resolve the ongoing teacher shortage. Programs will provide incentives for teachers, accelerate the state certification process, address student needs and create a robust pipeline of future educators to ensure a shortage never again threatens the opportunities for families and children.
- Expanding Opportunities for SUNY and CUNY Students
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Through Apprenticeship and Internship programs, students from CUNY and SUNY schools are able to apply their classroom learnings in hands-on and real-world settings – a strategy which promotes student success outcomes. SUNY and CUNY will also expand their offerings in mental health training programs to increase the number of trained professions and better meet the demand of New Yorkers.
- Health Care Workforce Investment
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All New Yorkers should have access to safe, affordable and high-quality health care. The COVID-19 pandemic taxed an already strained health care system, exacerbating disparities and systemic health care delivery issues, as essential health workers heroically forged against the surges to care for New Yorkers. New programs and funding will strengthen the pipeline of diverse medical professionals and support individuals looking to enter and grow in the health care and direct care fields.
