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Workforce update: county reports 4.9% unemployment, approves youth program contracts and staffing renewals
Summary
Warren County’s committee approved contracts and staffing renewals for summer youth employment and internship supports, and heard that February unemployment in the county was 4.9%; staff reported 55 youth eligible for the TANF-funded summer program and outlined outreach to employers and schools.
Warren County’s Economic Growth & Development Committee approved a set of workforce items April 22, including a contract with Boseies for the summer lunch training program, renewal of temporary positions for the July 1–June 30 program year, and a transfer of excess fringe-benefit funds to salary and retirement lines to cover summer interns.
Liza, the county’s workforce development representative, told the committee the Boseies contract trains youth in the summer employment program to prepare and serve meals to children in need and that the price is roughly the same as last year, “maybe about $1,000 more or $800 more because of food costs.” She said the county expects to receive its TANF allocation (administered by DSS) in early May and currently has 55 eligible youth for the summer employment program; last year the allocation was “around $130,000.”
Liza also reported recent labor-market signals: February unemployment in the tri‑county region showed Warren County at 4.9% and the Glens Falls metropolitan statistical area at 5.2%. “That is about the state average, but usually we’re under the state average,” she said, and she will review Department of Labor data for causes and report back to the committee.
Committee members asked about manufacturing hiring — Liza said firms including local employers have been recruiting at job fairs and are filling positions by shift and skill needs; she emphasized county efforts to broaden recruitment to workers with barriers to employment. Supervisors also raised financial literacy as a priority: Liza said financial literacy is a required part of the summer youth employment curriculum, the county brings in a credit union instructor annually and offers monthly virtual adult financial workshops, and staff are surveying school districts to identify gaps.
On budget items, staff explained the transfer from Warren County fringe costs to salary/retirement is to accommodate summer interns placed at county departments and community organizations; members asked whether fringe had been over-appropriated and staff confirmed there remain other funds in the fringe line. The committee approved each workforce action on voice votes with no recorded opposition.
What’s next: staff will finalize the Boseies contract, proceed with youth interviews and placements, report back on the Department of Labor unemployment analysis, and provide further details on workforce board budget timing at the next committee meeting.
