Gov. Murphy Lays Out ‘Jobs NJ’ Initiative

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ—New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has unveiled his new “Jobs NJ: Developing Talent to Grow Business in the Garden State” program that he says will be focused on providing training to workers in growing industry sectors in the state.

“For New Jersey to succeed in the 21st century economy, we must close the gap between the needs of employers and the skills of prospective employees,” says Gov. Murphy. “With our new plan, we are addressing this problem head-on by ensuring our residents have the critical training and education they need for jobs that are available and in-demand, and connecting them to those jobs.”

The governor presented the plan, flanked by students, educators, cabinet members, elected officials and business leaders, at the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School on Wednesday.

The plan includes three strategic priorities with targeted initiatives that include expanding access to opportunity by increasing educational attainment among underrepresented minorities and other targeted populations and ensuring equal access to opportunities in all regions of the state.

Another key component of the program is to train Individuals for in-demand jobs by connecting educational and training programs to industry needs and preparing adults for high-quality jobs throughout their entire careers.

The other facet of the program calls for matching talent to jobs by ensuring access to up-to-date job information, “celebrating” employers that provide high-quality jobs, and creating a dedicated team to craft individualized solutions to complex access-to-labor problems.

Jobs NJ was developed by the Governor’s Jobs and Economic Opportunity Council. Implementation will be led by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the New Jersey Department of Education.