ALBANY – Legislation that will expand workforce assistance and training programs for women so they qualify for higher paying jobs, including those that have traditionally gone to men, has been signed into law by Governor Cuomo.

The bill was sponsored by Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern). “I am concerned because the economic status of women is limited by their lower earning potential,” Jaffee said. “A potential solution to this problem is to train women for jobs that pay higher wages. These are often characterized as male jobs.”

The legislation will add a work force training program in the Department of Labor that is specifically intended to help women seek higher paying jobs. The program would include current information about careers that offer a higher salary and compensation; counseling, skills development and training that encourage women to seek jobs and higher earning potential.