New Office Will Target State’s Workforce Development Efforts Toward Regional Businesses’ Needs and Workers’ Long-Term Success
Office Will Lead Broader $350 Million Workforce Development Initiative Approved in FY 2023 Budget, Including New Grant Programs That Will Primarily Support Employer-Driven, High-Skilled Workforce Training Programs
Input from Businesses in New Survey Will Inform Demand-Driven Workforce Development Model
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the creation of the 
Office of Strategic Workforce Development, which will be charged with improving the State’s workforce development programs and practices to better align with the needs and priorities of today’s employers. The Governor first proposed the new office in her State of the State address earlier this year and committed funding that was approved in the FY2023 budget. Governor Hochul is delivering on her commitment to strengthen the skills and talents of New York’s workforce and help grow the economy. The $350 million investment in state funding will support wide-reaching, historic and coordinated investment in workforce development across state agencies and authorities and includes $150 million in multi-year funding for new grant programs that will primarily support employer-driven, high skilled workforce training programs.
“New Yorkers are still struggling to find work and opportunity due to the economic disruption of the pandemic,” Governor Hochul said. “This issue is personal to me – I’ve seen steel plants 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 connect New Yorkers with the good-paying jobs of the future.”
Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President and CEO-designate Hope Knight said, “The new Office of Strategic Workforce Development will optimize ESD’s relationships with the state’s industries and employers to generate new opportunities for New Yorkers and encourage regional economic growth. Together with our State University system and our agency partners, we can provide businesses with a talent pipeline to catalyze new investments throughout the state.”
The Office of Strategic Workforce Development will function under Empire State Development (ESD), marking a decisive change in workforce development policy to one that is laser-focused on supporting the labor needs of the state’s highest-growth sectors while producing new economic opportunity for un/underemployed and underrepresented workers. ESD will manage the Office in close coordination with agency partners, including the Department of Labor, the State University of New York, and the City University of New York, among others with significant expertise in and a track record of delivering successful workforce training programs. The Office will leverage ESD’s relationships with employers throughout the state and its standing as a trusted partner in the business community to help identify employer needs early and train New Yorkers to meet those needs.
To launch this effort, New York State – in partnership with the Business Council of New York State – has developed a comprehensive online survey to solicit vital feedback from businesses on the skills required for workers to be successful in today’s complex economy, and how New York can prepare and position its labor force to better serve companies’ needs. This demand-driven approach will ensure that New York has access to real-time feedback on in-demand jobs and skills to inform its statewide and regional workforce development efforts.
Critically, ESD will work hand-in-hand with the state’s 10 Regional Economic Development Councils, which will engage with local stakeholders and help to identify specific skills and industries to prioritize in each region in the post-pandemic economy. The Regional Councils’ local expertise will help ensure each region’s workforce training programs are aware of current and evolving employer needs and allow local training providers to better align their programs to these priorities.
In addition to promoting an industry-driven strategy, ESD will also introduce and administer $150 million in new programs, aimed primarily at meeting high-skilled employer needs to fill in-demand jobs and complement the State’s existing workforce development efforts. This programming will include performance-based grants for workforce training providers that successfully place trainees in quality jobs, flexible operating funds to help providers cover the costs of program administration, and capital funding to allow providers to make essential capital purchases and/or upgrades to their training facilities. To ensure flexibility to meet changing needs, funding will be available on a real-time, continual basis to generate a pipeline of new workers for regionally-significant industries. As these new programs are expected to launch later this year, the Office will also establish and maintain metrics for tracking the implementation and success of the programs.
ESD is currently conducting a comprehensive search for Office personnel to implement and lead the State’s ambitious efforts.
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “The New York State economy is moving forward and businesses need a skilled workforce to keep that strong momentum going. NYS DOL regularly conducts surveys of businesses statewide to gauge their needs and support their success. From registered apprenticeships and highly successful job fairs to online upskilling opportunities via Coursera, and many other resources, the New York State Department of Labor is here to ensure that New Yorkers statewide receive the quality training they need to truly meet business needs and succeed in our robust economy. Our collaboration with the Office of Strategic Workforce Development and other agencies, will grow great opportunities for New Yorkers in every region of the state.”
