(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - In a bid to recruit and retain Entry-Level State Workers, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has announced raises for thousands working in professional traineeships.

About 2,100 individuals are participating in professional traineeships at 46 State Agencies, including the Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Health, the Department of Civil Service and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Upon completing a two-year traineeship, Trainees are promoted to Entry-Level Positions, including into titles such as Administrative Specialist and Human Resources Specialist.

Those in a Trainee 1 Title received a 5.7% salary boost, according to the Governor’s announcement, with their pay increasing from $49,363 a year to $52,198.

Those in Trainee 2 Titles got an 11.6% bump, with their salaries rising from $52,198 to $58,247.

“Every New Yorker deserves a strong, stable and equitable State Government.  We count on our State Workers to deliver the vital services we rely on every day,” Hochul said in a statement. “These pay increases will allow us to retain and attract our State Agency and Government Employees, so that we can continue our mission to bring the highest quality support New Yorkers expect and deserve, now and into the future.”

As of September, State Agencies were looking to fill about 10,000 vacancies, according to Civil Service Commissioner Timothy Hogues.

Prior to the Coronavirus Pandemic, there were about 185,000 Employees working in State Agencies and in the State and City University Systems, according to the Fiscal Year 2021 State Workforce Briefing Book.

By the end of last year, the State Workforce consisted of 175,333 Employees, according to the Executive Budget Briefing Book.

“New York State is looking for the best and brightest to join in a rewarding career in public service,” Hogues said. “To better align with jobseekers’ expectations and to assist State agencies in an ever-increasingly competitive labor market, New York State is increasing the traineeship salaries to attract and retain more candidates to assist State Agencies in fulfilling their hiring needs and provide the public with valuable and necessary services.”

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