The Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee and the Senate Labor and Industry Committee held a joint hearing on Tuesday to discuss workforce development in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Panelists included representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the Greater Hazleton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Pittston Area Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce.
Panelists discussed union apprenticeship programs, training, education, access to transportation, affordable childcare, and the availability of quality drug and alcohol programs.
“With employers in just about every sector coping with a lack of available or suitably skilled workers, we need to redouble our efforts to make sure that emerging workers and displaced workers have the education, training, and work ethic needed to fill the jobs of today and tomorrow,” state Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne/Pike/Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) said.
Northeastern Pennsylvania created more than 2,300 new jobs last year, more than any other region in the state, and secured more than $1.2 billion in private economic development, according to the 2020-21 Governor’s Action Team Report.
The hearing was held at the Luzerne County Community College’s Educational Conference Center.
State Sen. John Yudichak (I-Luzerne/Carbon) is chairman of the Senate Community, Economic, and Recreational Development Committee, and state Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Beaver/Greene/Washington) is chairwoman of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee.