We know how important a good workforce is and in Genesee County, we are dedicated to ensuring that local businesses have access to an ample supply of well educated, highly skilled people. We also know that within an organization, there is always a need for skills training and workforce development among existing employees. Because of this, Genesee County is home to a number of workforce development organizations.

• 350,000 total workforce within 30 mile radius of Genesee County
• 2.2 million person workforce within a 60 mile radius of Genesee County

• Wages average 20% below regional averages
• 2000 Median Household Income: $40,452
• 2000 Median Per Capita Income: $18,498
• Average earnings per employee = $25,770

(Source: Fed Stats.)

The BEST Center (through Genesee Community College) offers high quality, cost effective employee skills development programs through training in all the skills areas you may need to improve. They also offer consulting services, as well as state of the art conference facilities including satellite linked teleconferencing services.

The Genesee County Career Center Offers "one-stop shopping" for all NYS Department of Labor services. The Career Center also houses the GCC Eductional Opportunities Center, Literacy Volunteers of GC, Job Development Bureau, VESID, Experience Works, Iroquois Job Corps, & Sibley Nursing, a private sector employment agency.

The Genesee County Career Center offers services to employers looking for qualified employees, including On the Job Training Programs that can save your business up to 50% off your training costs, Tax Credit, Classroom Training Programs, and Recruitment/Screening Services. They will also help direct job seekers to your busines, saving you money on recruitment.

GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming County) Workforce Investment Board can help your business screen potential applicants, research labor force availability and wage scales, post job openings, search New York's Job Bank for qualified job applicants, assist with designing and finding training programs, and much more.

BOCES offers low cost career development training and is a rich resource for potential employees.

The NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences at the University of Buffalo partnered with the GCEDC to create career awareness and interest in the growing life science industry in Western New York. The product of this workforce development initiative was the website iSciWNY. Partially funded through 13N grants from the New York State Department of Labor, the website is the gateway for individuals to learn about these careers. It includes educational and career pathways, types of life science companies in our area and available job opportunities. To learn more click on to http://www.iSciWNY.com

An abundance of highly skilled and educated workforce gives our companies the ability to keep pace with ever increasing technological demands. Over 30 colleges and universities (including Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester, and University of Buffalo) educate and enhance the skills of an excess of 200,000 students across the region, ensuring a continuous supply of qualified labor.

• 84.4% of population ages 25 and higher have high school degrees or higher
• 28.3% of population ages 25 and higher have college degrees

(Source: Fed Stats.)