(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - Governor Kathy Hochul has reappointed Cornell University Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) School Labor and Employment Law Programs Director Esta Bigler as Chair of the New York State Apprenticeship and Training Council.

Since 2008, Bigler has served as chair of the seven-member Council, which advises the State Labor Commissioner on training, standards, trends and other elements that can help drive Apprenticeships, a source of skilled Workers in areas experiencing labor shortages.

“As a Council, we review all new Apprenticeship applications and recommend to the Commissioner whether to grant the Trade-Registered Apprenticeship status.  Registered Apprenticeship, the ‘gold standard’ of workforce training, is an ‘earn-while-you-learn’ program,” Bigler said.

New York has one of the most extensive Apprenticeship Programs in the Nation.

More than 17,000 Apprentices are currently working in 912 programs.

A State-Registered Apprenticeship Program is also a prerequisite for bidding on public works projects in New York state.

For More On This Apprenticeship And Training Labor News Story, Go To: Bigler Reappointed Chair of NYS Council | The ILR School (cornell.edu)

Photo Of Esta Bigler Courtesy Of Cornell University’s Industrial And Labor Relations School.