New York State to Accelerate Minority Hirings

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced two significant actions to increase and strengthen diversity in the state government workforce.

First, he announced Friday, he is creating an Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion to focus on accelerating the hiring of strong minority candidates for positions in the state government workforce. The Advisory Council will be chaired by the New York Secretary of State.

Second, he announced a series of career fairs to be held over the coming weeks to help increase the representation of minorities in state government’s workforce.

“New York’s diversity has always been its greatest strength,” Cuomo in his announcement. “Our MWBE program has become a national model, and we are going to do the same with our hiring practices so that the state’s workforce reflects the strength of our communities. We believe that bringing people together and being inclusive – not divisive – is the best way to create a state that works for everyone, and together we will continue to raise the bar and build a better future for all New Yorkers.”

Look for local opportunities in the Jobs section on Nyack-Piermont Patch.

Stay on top of Patch’s local coverage by subscribing to the Nyack-Piermont newsletter.

In 2015, minorities represented 25.7 percent of the state government workforce, up from 24.2 percent in 2010 and 23.3 percent in 2005.

The Governor’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion has been charged with accelerating this rate of progress overall by recruiting more racial and ethnic minorities to work in state government. Their work will include examining relevant data and best practices in both the public and private sectors; identifying challenges and opportunities within the existing system; and collaborating with key State agencies to develop a Five-Year Strategic Plan for Statewide Diversity and Inclusion.

Here's the current breakdown:

• Caucasians make up 58.4 of the workforce in New York state but 74.3 of the state government workforce. African Americans make up 13.8 percent of the state workforce and 16.6 percent of the state government work force.
• For Hispanics and Asians the situation is different. They make up 17.5 of the state workforce but just 4.9 of the state government workforce. Asians make up 8.6 of the state workforce and 3.8 percent of the state government workforce.

Upcoming career fairs include:

• April 7, 2016, 10am – 2pm
  SUNY Broome Martin Luther King Jr. Job Fair
  SUNY Broome Ice Center, Binghamton, NY
  
  April 19, 2016, 10am – 1pm
  Columbia-Greene Community College Job Fair
  Columbia Greene Community College, Hudson, NY
  
  April 26, 2016, 9am -1:30pm; 4:30pm – 5:30pm
  Broome-Tioga BOCES Spring Career Fair
  BT BOCES Gymnasium
  435 Glenwood Road, Binghamton, NY
  
  May 11, 2016, 3pm – 7pm
  Plattsburgh North Country Chamber of Commerce Annual Spring Job Fair
  Westside Ballroom, Plattsburgh, NY
  
  May 12, 2016, 11am-3pm
  Hostos Community College Career Fair
  500 Grand Concourse
  Bronx, NY

As more events are announced, they will be found at: www.labor.ny.gov and www.cs.ny.gov.