State Labor Commissioner Peter M. Rivera today announced the reconstitution of the State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) in order to complement the work of the Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) and further increase job growth in New York State.

The SWIB is a key component of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s strategy for attracting businesses and growing jobs in New York State. The 49-member board is composed of state and local elected officials, agency leaders and appointed representatives from businesses, labor and youth organizations, community colleges and community-based organizations. The group represents a wide range of workforce interests including veterans, youth and the unemployed.

The inaugural meeting for the newly reconstituted board will take place on January 29, 2014 at 1 p.m. in the Blue Room of the New York State Capitol Building.

“This is a different board than in the past, one with a broader view, a new strategy, and the capacity to do more and in a smarter way,” said Commissioner Rivera. “This board will build upon the success of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative and implement the bottom-up approach to job growth that has worked so well across the state. I look forward to working with the new board members to set the stage for further improving workforce development.”

Since Governor Cuomo took office, the unemployment rate has dropped in all ten regions of the state, the state economy has added more than 390,000 new private sector jobs and the private sector job count is at a record high of more than 7.5 million.

The board includes local stakeholders who help target resources to growing critical industries on a region-by-region basis. Workforce planning by the SWIB aligns broader economic goals through workforce development strategies that are regionally specific.

“The State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) represents a powerhouse of business development and economic revitalization with input from every corner of the state,” said Kenneth Adams, President and CEO of the Empire State Development Corporation. “Working in concert with the Regional Economic Development Councils, the SWIB will further strengthen New York’s economy from the ground up.”

The revitalization of the board also aligns with the recommendation from the governor’s Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission in its 2013 report, which called on the SWIB to re-activate, align with REDCs and better coordinate the state’s workforce development efforts.

New York State has 96 Career Centers that help connect job seekers and employers. In 2013, 969,000 people were hired nationwide using states' workforce career centers. New York State accounted for 257,000 of those job placements, which is 26.5 percent of the nation.

More information about the SWIB, including a complete list of board members, is available at: www.labor.ny.gov/workforce/swib/SWIBAbout.shtm.