NEWBURGH – Developing a skilled workforce to meet the needs of the economy of today and tomorrow is a primary focus of the State Department of Labor, Commissioner Roberta Reardon said Friday.

She addressed the third annual Orange County Economic Summit held this year at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh.

Residents of the Hudson Valley and around the state want careers, not jobs, she told the conference.

• “Everyone needs to embrace that this is an era of lifelong learning. Gone are the days when you can learn a few skills, get one degree and keep doing the same thing day in and day out,” she said. “Our economy is constantly and rapidly evolving, so it is essential that our workforce is doing the same. They have to continuous learn and upscale in order to support the growth. It’s the only way we will maintain our economic momentum.”

Reardon said career opportunities in the Hudson Valley continue to grow in tourism, artificial intelligence and aviation, among other sectors.

The annual conference was coordinated by the county economic development team headed by County Director Steven Gross.