More than 300 job seekers lined up to meet with over 40 employers and resource providers at a regional career fair October 12 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. Sponsored by the Westchester County Association (WCA), Westchester’s leading economic development and business advocacy organization, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, and the Westchester County Office for Economic Development, the event — the largest of its kind in the region this fall — brought together hundreds of qualified candidates needed to fill approximately 3,000 in-demand jobs in healthcare, finance, nonprofit and other sectors.
While the latest national jobs report showed strong growth, employers in every sector in Westchester County continue to experience labor shortages and are struggling to fill positions, according to Jason Chapin, WCA’s Director of Workforce Development.
Said Chapin: “Finding the right talent is a critical challenge for business. At the same time, many workers experiencing barriers to employment are finding it difficult to secure work. Through our partnerships with the private sector, government, and education and training providers, we were pleased to bring employers and job seekers together to bridge the gap. It’s all part of our work to create a sustainable regional talent pipeline.”
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “Today’s event is a testament to our commitment to building a strong and vibrant workforce. We must continue to think big to best position Westchester to be able to take on the challenges of today and the opportunities of tomorrow.”
Bridget Gibbons, Westchester County’s Director of Economic Development, said: “Westchester companies are hiring and the County is committed to helping our businesses to find the talent that they need. The employers who participated in today’s event reflect the diversity and depth of our local economy, and offered job seekers a wide-range of opportunities to leverage their skills as part of the local workforce.”
A wide array of companies, many of them members of the WCA, were in attendance, including Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, Chase Bank, CohnReznick, Mercy University, NewYork-Presbyterian, Northwell , SUNY Westchester Community College, White Plains Hospital, WMCHealth, among many others. They interviewed job seekers, students, and college graduates from over 20 higher education and training providers in the region and met with resource providers including the Child Care Council of Westchester, Neighbors Link, and United Way of Westchester and Putnam who were on hand with information on support services. A full list of employers and resource providers can be found here.
For more information on the WCA’s talent pipeline initiatives visit https://www.westchester.org/initiative/workforce-development/