Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson (D-Rochester/Chili/Henrietta) announced legislation he authored to establish three wage data clearinghouses to analyze and evaluate the labor market in New York State has passed the Assembly A.2164-A.

“New York must provide quality job training programs to help individuals be in place to seize upon job opportunities in emerging and expanding workforces as well as in industries with a skills gap. Every year, New York spends enormous amounts of money to educate and train future workers for the job market without knowing which of these state-funded programs actually work,” Bronson said. “Assessing wage data and workforce programs will ensure that taxpayers’ money is spent wisely, while helping pinpoint how to strengthen the workforce.”

The bill designates the state Department of Labor (DOL) to partner with academic institutions across the state to analyze labor data and report on the effectiveness of workforce preparation programs. The clearinghouses would issue reports on wage data and how beneficial public education, public colleges, workforce development and preparation programs and adult literacy programs truly are in preparing future workers for particular career paths and a living wage.

The legislation is part of Bronson’s continued efforts to build a better prepared, more diverse workforce in New York State. As chair of the Legislative Commission on Skills Development and Career Education and a member of the Assembly Committee on Labor, Bronson successfully pushed for the Empire State Apprenticeship Program to be included in this year’s state budget. The measure provides tax credits to nonprofits and businesses that hire apprentices to teach them valuable skills.