A ready and able workforce is central to Westchester’s economic vitality. How is the WCA connecting businesses with talent?
Businesses go where there is talent, and that means having a pipeline of trained and job-ready individuals is essential. But job growth in Westchester is strong across virtually every sector, threatening to outpace the county’s pool of men and women who are prepared to fill key positions. Training the workforce for current and future high growth-potential careers is critical.
Westchester County selected WCA in 2015 to manage, Jobs Waiting, a $9.8 million U.S. Dept. of Labor Ready to Work grant focused on training and placing job seekers in healthcare jobs and upskilling healthcare employees in the Hudson Valley. The four-year project provided training to more than 600 individuals and placed almost 400 job seekers with more than 250 employers in the region. WCA exceeded the enrollment, training and placement goals ahead of schedule and was one of the most successful Ready to Work grantees. The return on investment was nearly 2:1 and has an economic impact of almost $20 million per year. WCA continues to focus on the importance of hiring and investing in employees who add value to the organization. WCA is uniquely qualified with its strong relationships with employers, colleges and other education/training providers. WCA understands the importance of having key stakeholders work together to meet the region’s short- and long-term talent needs.
