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NYS: Expansion of Virtual Career Center to connect more New Yorkers to careers

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Tue, Sep 13th 2022 07:05 pm

Free, state-of-the-art resource from New York State Department of Labor to connect job seekers to more than 250,000 jobs

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the New York State Department of Labor has expanded its Virtual Career Center, “a cutting-edge online platform to help New Yorkers accelerate their career search.”

Hochul’s team said, “The Virtual Career Center uses robust artificial intelligence to match a job seeker's skills and experience with job opportunities. The free platform caters the experience to each customer's individual needs and allows users to browse more than 250,000 job posting in seconds, upload their resumes, and explore job training opportunities to take their careers to the next level.”

Hochul said, "New York has made remarkable progress in reducing unemployment, creating quality, high-paying jobs, and connecting job seekers all over the state to fulfilling work opportunities. With this expansion of the Virtual Career Center, we are leveraging the very best technology to give New Yorkers a world-class job-finding tool completely free of charge. I encourage all New Yorkers to take advantage of this resource and visit the Department of Labor's website to learn more."

Previously, only unemployed job seekers were able to access this resource through a pilot program. Hochul has now expanded it so all New Yorkers can access the Virtual Career Center by creating or signing into an ny.gov account.

Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Technology enabled us to continue to serve customers throughout the pandemic, and the Department of Labor will continue to utilize the latest advancements to help New Yorkers achieve their career goals. The Virtual Career Center is just one of many no-cost, online resources we offer to help New Yorkers make their career dreams become reality."

Job seekers also can check out the New York State Job Bank, Part-Time Hiring Opportunities Job Bank, and NY Seasonal Jobs to browse available statewide jobs. New Yorkers can access the Career Center Events and Recruitments Calendar to sign up for virtual workshops and virtual career fairs. JobZone also provides tools to help New Yorkers plan their future, organize their job search, develop resumes and explore careers. Unemployed and underemployed New Yorkers can also learn new skills relevant to high-demand careers by enrolling in free online classes via Coursera.

All new weekly unemployment insurance benefit claimants are automatically added and invited to the Virtual Career Center to help them use this new tool to find jobs that match their experience, knowledge and skills.

Capital Region Workforce Development Board Executive Director Brian Williams said, "Since the beginning of the pandemic, the local workforce development system has shown that the ability to offer services remotely enabled more access to individuals in need of career guidance and skills training that businesses desire. Using technology like the Virtual Career Center to connect individuals to the myriad of workforce development and skills training services will create a comprehensive and accessible pathway to great family-sustaining careers and a talented pipeline for businesses."

Hochul’s team said, “NYSDOL continues to explore new ways to harness technology to better assist New Yorkers.”

In June, Hochul announced the department was halfway through its four-year strategic modernization plan, an ongoing effort to reduce call volume, enhance customer experience, and swiftly connect New Yorkers to UI benefits. NYSDOL is also currently analyzing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women in the workplace with a particular focus on the multi-layered gender wage gap. The report will outline recommendations designed to empower women while also advancing New York state's diverse and robust economy.

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