Employment Opportunities in All Sectors
For people seeking employment opportunities, Chautauqua County boasts a low unemployment rate with living wage jobs available for every skill level. While manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture are the county’s primary industries, there’s also opportunities in healthcare, assisted living, and education, and a growing number of people are moving to the area and working remotely or starting their own enterprise.
Interested in starting or expanding a business in Chautauqua County? Learn more at the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency page on ChooseCHQ.com.
About Our Labor Force
From the early furniture manufacturers in the City of Jamestown to the storied history of building train engines at the Brooks Locomotive Works in Dunkirk, manufacturing has been one of the key industries in Chautauqua County for the past two centuries, and that legacy continues to this very day with places like Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant, Nestle-Purina, SKF, and many more.
In addition to manufacturing, agriculture and tourism also have a strong footing in our county, along with a variety of other job sectors including warehousing, food processing, wine and craft beverages, healthcare, assisted living, the arts, and education, plus many more.
A growing number of people are also taking advantage of Chautauqua County’s relatively low cost of living and moving to the area while working remotely, or even starting their own enterprise.
Needless to say, there’s no shortage of work opportunities in Chautauqua County.
Employment Opportunities
Chautauqua Works pulls all resources in the community into a systematic approach to help employers become competitive in a global economy and help individuals attain life skills necessary for employment in family-sustaining jobs. Job seekers use Chautauqua Works to upgrade their skills and obtain employment. Employers use Chautauqua Works to fill positions. It’s a win-win!
Chautauqua Works is also home to the Workforce Development Board (WDB), a local board appointed by the County Executive to transform a historically fragmented assortment of employment and training programs into a comprehensive, aligned and universal system. The goal is to reposition federal job training as a business-led, market-driven system to improve workforce quality.
Jamestown: (716) 661-9553
Dunkirk: (716) 366-9015
Chautauqua County Government also has a variety of Employment Opportunities available on a near-regular basis.
Workforce Readiness
Want to explore job opportunities outside of your comfort zone, but lack the required skill set necessary to move forward? No problem! Chautauqua County has programs in place that provide customized training and education resources designed specifically with and for business and industry.
Workforce Development Board
The Workforce Development Board (WDB) is a local board appointed by the County Executive to transform a historically fragmented assortment of employment and training programs into a comprehensive, aligned and universal system. The goal is to reposition federal job training as a business-led, market-driven system to improve workforce quality.
JCC Workforce Readiness
The Jamestown Community College Workforce Readiness program works with employment sector employers and workforce and economic development agencies to meet the current and future workforce needs in the Southern Tier.
Dream It Do It Western New York
The Dream It Do It Western New York program was created to educate the next generation workforce about careers in Advanced Manufacturing and seeks to provide manufacturers in Chautauqua County and elsewhere with the employees that have the skill and training required to fill exciting career opportunities in manufacturing.
Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)
The Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), is a public education collaborative in New York State that functions as an extension of local school districts. BOCES is able to provide services that school districts may be too small to offer on their own or that would be more economical to offer collaboratively, sharing costs with other school districts.
Small Business Development Center
Looking for resources to start your own small business? Consider the Small Business Development Center. Â The SBDC delivers high quality business counseling and training to clients looking to start a business or improve the performance of an existing business. Services are free and confidential.
Center for Innovation and Economic Development
The Center for Innovation & Economic Development (CIED) in Dunkirk is an economic development program of the State University of New York at Fredonia. Formerly the Fredonia Technology Incubator (FTI), the CIED works with external partners to promote economic growth by supporting entrepreneurship and the development of new, innovative companies into successful business ventures.
Child Care
If you want help locating child care or have questions about child care, call 800-424-4532. The New York State Child Care Resource & Referal (CCRR) agency will be able to give you names of providers in your area that may meet your child care needs. Remember though, this is just a starting point. You will need to contact the provider to see if they have space available for your child and to visit the provider to make sure for yourself that this is the right match for you.
Assistance for Working Families
The Chautauqua Child Care Council (CCCC) provides services for those seeking to open a child care business, for those parents needing a quality environment for their children that supports employment, and for the community as a whole by assisting in the development of a comprehensive network of care options that support and encourage economic growth and development. The CCCC can also offer assistance to individuals and families who wish to apply for the Child Care Assistance Program offered by New York State. The council is a division of Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc.
Professional Networking
Professional networking can assist your career development by providing access to job opportunities, career advice, and resources. Building a strong network of industry professionals can also contribute to your career progression, personal growth, and long-term success.
CHQ Chamber
The CHQ Chamber (formerly Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce) is a critical partner in achieving consistent economic growth, resiliency, and prosperity to increase the collective opportunity for local businesses and organizations in Chautauqua County. The mission is to build vital connections, provide professional resources, and champion our local businesses in Chautauqua County.
CHQ Professionals Group
The mission of The CHQ Professionals Group (Perviously Northern Chautauqua Young Professionals) is to network and advocate for all professionals promoting awareness of local opportunities and entrepreneurship endeavors. They strategically engage in social and civic practices enhancing the overall quality of life for young professionals and, by extension, our communities.
Chautauqua Leadership Network
Chautauqua Leadership Network is a non-profit that provides leadership development and diverse connections to help you strengthen our communities. The network of accomplished leaders serve to bridge the pillars of business, education, non-profit, and government to enrich the quality of life in Chautauqua County.
Jamestown Young Professionals
Jamestown Young Professionals is dedicated to providing opportunities for young professionals to connect, grow personally and professionally, give back to the community, and enjoy life in the Jamestown area.
Cassadaga Community & Business Alliance
Resident Ambassador Program
Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG) is working to create a resident ambassador program. The CCPEG Ambassador Program aligns an ambassador with interviewees and new hires of local businesses. The ambassador connects with the client and welcomes them to the community. The ambassador communicates the quality of life in the area and aligns the client with a local network of people, resources, events, and activities.
The service is presented to businesses who are interviewing candidates from outside the area for positions in the community. The service is provided to businesses who have new hires whom they want to retain.
Women in Networking
Women in Networking is a program for any female working in the business sector. Women meet at a monthly luncheon to exchange ideas, and experiences, and address challenging issues. Each person briefly shares their latest business news and then participates in a learning opportunity with a presentation on a topic of interest.
Get Involved
Learn more about opportunities to connect with people in our community.