HOLYOKE — Addressing unemployment and workforce training are key to advancing the region’s post-COVID economy, lawmakers and others said at a business gathering last week.
The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce invited the city’s Statehouse delegation to its June 25 luncheon at the Summit View Banquet and Meeting House. State Rep. Patricia Duffy, D-Holyoke, and State Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, joined Jeffrey Hayden, vice president of business and workforce development at Holyoke Community College.
Duffy said with the state’s economy reopening, businesses continue to face hiring challenges. “Workforce development has to be my priority because it’s about education, small businesses and supporting the economy,” she said.
Duffy attached an earmark to the state’s fiscal 2022 budget, now before House and Senate negotiators, for $50,000 to start a manufacturing training program at Holyoke Community College. Many Holyoke small and large businesses are engaged in manufacturing, she said.
Velis said workforce development is a frequent topic, whether before a group like the chamber or at the “grocery store.” He noted the region and the state must contend with a worker shortage, and noted the restaurant and service industries were hit hard by the pandemic.
He remains concerned about increased assessments businesses must pay into the state’s Unemployment Solvency Fund, adding up in some cases to millions of dollars.
“After the pandemic, those fees went up,” Velis said. “Sometimes government doesn’t respond as fast as we would like it, too.”
The Legislature has considered spreading payments out over 20 years, according to Velis.
Velis said tax revenue has exceeded expectations at the state and federal levels. As a result, the Legislature wants to shift federal American Rescue Plan dollars to reduce the jobless fund shortfall.
Hayden, the city’s former director of planning and economic development, said the pandemic caused a nearly 10% drop in employment in Holyoke. “The good news is that it’s climbing back,” he said.
More than 16,600 of the city’s 40,000 or so residents are employed. According to Hayden, Holyoke had nearly 23,000 jobs pre-pandemic, which included hospitality and service jobs. A year ago, 20% of the city’s population was considered unemployed.
The problem remains how to get the long-term unemployed or underemployed people rehired or retrained, Hayden added.
“The demand for health care worker jobs is through the roof,” he said.
Typically the college certifies 100 nursing assistants annually. Hayden expects the graduation rate to double this year.
“Frankly, the demand is still there,” Hayden said. “There are many occupations in early childhood education, and there’s a huge demand for manufacturing.” In addition, he predicted an upswing in hospitality hiring.
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