Overview
The Workforce Development Board and its Working Solutions centers offer a wealth of resources and programs designed to help companies hire and sustain the talent they need. The list below represents some of the incentives and resources available to help businesses recruit, train and maintain a talented workforce in Oneida, Herkimer and Madison Counties.
Recruitment & Business Services
NYS Job Bank
Businesses can post job openings and search for resumes on the State Job Bank at no cost. Department of Labor Business Services staff can also assist in finding qualified candidates for businesses’ open positions. Provide the job description, skills and abilities desired, and they search the regional talent pool to find the best match for the open position.
Job Indexing
Businesses can link the Careers section of their website to the Job Banks so that new jobs are automatically posted and updated on the NYS Job Bank. This gives employers direct access to thousands of local job seekers. To index go to https://newyork.usnlx.com/
Career Fairs and Custom Recruiting
Business Services staff can also organize recruitment events and customized career fairs so that businesses have an opportunity to meet skilled job candidates face-to-face. Staff can target recruitment events to specific industries or to an individual business and hold the events at the Working Solutions centers or at a place of business.
Skills Matching Services – NY Talent
NY Talent is a new tool that helps businesses find the most qualified candidates for their job openings. Talent offers a job order wizard & the ability to search resumes. NY Talent uses artificial intelligence to analyze job postings and resumes using skills matching, going beyond simple keyword matching.
Hiring Incentives
On-The-Job Training
On the Job Training is a program that subsidizes the cost of training new hires, refers to training by an employer that is provided to a paid new trainee who is engaged in full-time productive work in a job. Federal Workforce Investment Act funds are used to reimburse the employer a portion of trainee wages, up to 50%.
WOTC
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit offers employers up to $2,400 in federal tax savings for hiring low-income individuals with barriers to employment. Qualified individuals must complete at least 120 hours of work to qualify for the partial WOTC credit of $1,500, and over 400 hours for the full $2,400 credit. To qualify employers for the credit, individuals must be verified as members of a targeted group.
Credits for Hiring Veterans
New York State offers a tax credit to businesses hiring qualified veterans. The credit equals 10% of total wages paid to the veteran during their first year of full time employment, up to a credit of $5,000. For disabled veterans it is 15% of full time wages with a cap of $15,000 in credit.
Hire-a-Vet Tax Credit
The Hire-a-Veteran Tax Credit encourages the hire of qualified veterans. Businesses must employ a qualified veteran for no less than 35 hours per week for one full year. Qualified veterans must attest that they were not employed for 35 or more hours in the previous 180 days. Businesses may earn tax credits up to $5,000 for hiring a qualified veteran, and up to $15,000 for hiring one who is disabled.
Workers with Disabilities Employment New York Tax Credit
Businesses that employ people who currently receive vocational rehabilitation services (or people who received them up to two years prior to hire) may earn $2,100 more in state tax credits. Businesses get the credit during the second year of employment.
Workforce Training Grants
Consolidated Funding Application
As part of New York’s new economic development and job creation model, the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) enables businesses to apply for workforce training funds to support one of three programs: Existing Employee training, New Hire training or Unemployed Worker training. Businesses are eligible to receive up to $100,000 and the trainee award is capped at $5,000. Three rounds of the CFA have awarded $5 million to businesses for training statewide.
NYSERDA Training
NYSERDA offers support for training in “green jobs” and clean energy careers. Workforce training programs are available across the state to prepare new and incumbent workers with skills related to energy efficiency and the installation of clean technologies.
Workforce Development Board Grants
We offer a variety of grant programs with different eligibility requirements. View our Grant Brochure to learn more about these programs.
Hiring Workers with Disabilities
Employment Tax Credit (WETC)
Businesses that employ people who currently receive vocational rehabilitation services (or people who received them up to two years prior to hire) may earn $2,100 more in state tax credits. You get the credit during the second year of employment and can combine it with the WOTC credit. For more information, click here.
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
Helps disabled persons receiving rehabilitation services move from economic dependency into self-sufficiency as they earn a steady income and become contributing taxpayers, while participating employers are able to reduce their income tax liability. The maximum tax credit ranges from $1,200 to $9,600, depending on the employee hired. For more information, click here.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
JAN Offers Practical Solutions & Workplace Success: The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both business and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability, and shows businesses how to capitalize on the value and talent that workers with disabilities add to the workplace. JAN’s trusted consultants offer one-on-one guidance on workplace accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related legislation, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for workers with disabilities. Assistance is available both over the phone and online. Those who can benefit from JAN’s services include private businesses of all sizes, government agencies, employee representatives, and service providers, as well as people with disabilities and their families. Visit www.askjan.org for answers to questions about employing workers with disabilities.
Additional Information
For more information on these and other workforce development supports, contact:
Workforce Development Board, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida Counties, Inc.
Caitlin McSorley, 315-207-6951 ext. 145
Herkimer County
Caitlin McSorley, 315-207-6951 ext. 145
Madison County
Ellen Bowe, 315-363-2400
Oneida County
Caitlin McSorley, 315-207-6951 ext. 145
Art Rapp, 315-798-3679