Higher Education

LongIslandJobs.org: Building a Stronger Connection Between Long Island Employers and Job Seekers

terrialessimiceliLeave a comment

One of the things I enjoy most about HIA-LI is seeing a good idea move from conversation to action.

That was very much the feeling in the room on Thursday, July 9, when we had a packed house at HIA-LI for a joint meeting of our Manufacturing, Human Resources, and Education/Workforce committees. We welcomed Vanessa Baird-Streeter, President and CEO of the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI), for a dynamic presentation on LongIslandJobs.org, a workforce platform built specifically for Long Island employers and job seekers.

What struck me immediately was how closely the platform aligned with the workforce conversations already taking place at HIA-LI.

Connecting the Dots on Workforce Development

Our Workforce Development Working Group brought together business leaders, educators, school administrators, BOCES representatives, and work-based learning professionals to identify 10 of the most important workforce priorities facing our region. From that work came four subcommittees focused on better communication between students and industry, greater awareness of Career and Technical Education opportunities, stronger connections between businesses and students, and closer partnerships among higher education, school districts, and BOCES.

One of the clearest needs we identified was for a centralized place where people could find jobs, training, educational opportunities, and other workforce resources.

Then along came LongIslandJobs.org.

A Resource Built for Long Island

HWCLI deserves tremendous credit for seeing that need and doing something about it. Working with Central Islip-based NAKA Technologies, HWCLI created a regional platform that brings together employment opportunities, job fairs, workforce training, career-development resources, volunteer opportunities, and information from local career centers. It was initially launched with nonprofit, healthcare, and human-service employers and is now expanding its reach to Long Island’s private-sector business community through this collaboration with HIA-LI.

As Vanessa explained:

“LongIslandJobs.org was created in response to a real and immediate need, but it was always intended to make it easier for people to access jobs, training, volunteer opportunities, and workforce resources in one place. By partnering with HIA-LI, we can bring the nonprofit, private, and education sectors together so the platform can serve more Long Island job seekers, employers, and communities.”

That cross-sector approach is especially important. Businesses cannot solve our workforce challenges alone. Neither can educators, nonprofits, or government. But when those sectors connect, we can create much stronger pathways between people looking for opportunities and employers looking for talent.

Our board, under the leadership of Anthony Manetta, Chair of HIA-LI’s Board of Directors, has strongly supported our workforce-development efforts. Rich Humann, P.E., President and CEO of H2M architects + engineers, and Dr. Edward T. Bonahue, President of Suffolk County Community College, have also provided important leadership as co-chairs of HIA-LI’s Workforce Development Task Force. Their perspectives, representing both employers and higher education, are critical as we continue working to strengthen Long Island’s talent pipeline.

Why Geography Matters

LongIslandJobs.org also addresses something deceptively simple: geography matters. National job sites can return results from New York City, Westchester, Connecticut, and beyond when someone is really looking for an opportunity on Long Island. A platform built specifically for our region makes it easier for Long Islanders to find Long Island jobs and for our employers to make their openings visible to local candidates.

And the platform will continue to grow. Planned additions include greater access to internships and apprenticeship opportunities, creating another important connection between students, emerging workers, and Long Island employers.

The Next Step Is Participation

As employer participation is currently free, I encourage HIA-LI members and businesses throughout Long Island to visit LongIslandJobs.org, register, and post your available positions.

The value of this resource will grow with participation. More employers posting opportunities will attract more job seekers. More job seekers using the site will make it more valuable to employers. More participation will lead to more opportunities, more connections, and a stronger regional workforce.

That is how we turn a good idea into a resource that can make a real difference for Long Island.

Visit LongIslandJobs.org and help build a stronger, more connected Long Island workforce.

Navigating the Future: Insights from the 30th Annual Long Island Economic Summit

terrialessimiceliLeave a comment
Pictured: A view from the dais at the February 15, 2024 30th Annual HIA-LI Long Island Economic Summit.

The 30th Annual Long Island Economic Summit, held on February 15, 2024, began with a clear message: Long Island “is a good place to do business.”

This year’s summit, drawing on the findings of the 2024 Long Island Economic Survey conducted by Adelphi University and Citrin Cooperman, brought to light the resilience and adaptability of our local business community. Business leaders across both counties – who were surveyed between November 1, 2023, and January 15, 2024 – made it quite evident that despite some hurdles, there’s a strong sense of optimism about doing business here. The event served not only as a platform for analysis and discussion but also as a beacon of positive expectations for the region’s economic landscape.

I’d like to summarize the findings and share some of the analysis from the summit’s distinguished panelists.

Survey Highlights

  • Taxes, retention of young talent, and inflation are a major concern for most businesses.
  • Long Island businesses seem hesitant to explore the benefits of AI compared to the rest of the country.
  • Supply chain issues, though not as extreme as years past, continue to linger.
  • Compensation, human resource issues, and workforce development remain a high concern.
  • Confidence in government’s role continues to deteriorate, however Long Island continues to be perceived as a good place to do business.

The Role of AI

Panel moderator John Fitzgerald, Managing Partner at Citrin Cooperman, noted the mixed feelings surrounding AI, pointing out that “Long Island businesses seem hesitant to fully explore the benefits of AI compared to the rest of the country.” This underscores a crucial area for potential growth and innovation.

To help meet that need, HIA-LI will be partnering with the LIA in an April 3 Long Island Artificial Intelligence Conference. The goal of the conference is to bring businesses, entrepreneurs, academia, not-for-profit organizations, and government officials together to discuss how our region can play a leading role in the development and implementation of AI technologies.

For more information, go to www.LI-AI.eventbrite.com.

Government Support

Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein, VP and Chief Public and Community Health Officer at Catholic Health, stressed the importance of government support, especially when it comes to healthcare reimbursements. “We need more help in terms of increased Medicaid and Medicare revenue,” he said. “Nobody would go into one of your businesses and say I want services, but I’m only going to pay you 60 percent.”

Food Insecurity

Paule Pachter, President and CEO of Long Island Cares, and an HIA-LI board member, emphasized the critical challenge of food insecurity on Long Island, stating, “A family of four who’s earning $60,000 or $70,000 a year are finding themselves going to food pantries or going to food banks to ask for some assistance. They don’t need everything. But they need some things in order to stretch their budget.”

Economic Outlook

Jeffrey Barber, Executive Vice President of Dime Community Bank, provided an insightful perspective on the economic outlook, highlighting the financial landscape’s strengths and potential growth areas. He noted, “There’s a tremendous amount of liquidity in the market. Many companies sat on those funds during COVID and didn’t know where things were headed.” He added some good news, “They’re now at a point where they’re comfortable spending and creating jobs.”

Talent Retention

Rich Humann, President and CEO of H2M architects + engineers, and an HIA-LI board member, discussed the ongoing challenge of retaining young professionals, underscoring the importance of creating connections, opportunities, and a compelling work environment to encourage talent to stay on Long Island. “Our responsibility as business owners is to provide the kind of environment and opportunity that would keep people with companies like ours.”

Higher Education

MaryAnne Hyland, Dean of the School of Business at Adelphi University, added to the discussion on talent retention by emphasizing the need for higher education institutions to adapt and innovate in preparing the workforce. “We need to make sure that we are providing students with programs that provide cutting-edge knowledge and skills that focus on the demands of the workforce of today and tomorrow,” she stated, highlighting the critical role of education in workforce development.

Moving Forward: A Collaborative Vision for Growth

The 2024 Economic Survey, coupled with the insights from the Economic Summit, paints a picture of a region at the threshold of significant growth, buoyed by optimism, yet mindful of the hurdles that lie ahead. The collective wisdom of the panelists, alongside the statistical data, underscores the need for collaborative efforts in innovation, government support, and talent retention strategies.

As we look to the future, the path for Long Island is clear: leveraging the insights and optimism shared at the summit to foster an environment where businesses and communities can thrive. With a commitment to addressing the highlighted challenges head-on, Long Island is poised to navigate its economic journey with resilience and vision.

You can read the full 2024 Long Island Economic Survey here.