The election of a new Council Speaker comes at a decisive moment for New York City’s workforce system. More than 30 city agencies touch workforce development in some way, yet no standing Council committee is accountable for results, coordination, or outcomes associated with this effort. As affordability pressures intensify, the Council has a clear opportunity to bring coherence to this fragmented landscape, elevating our City’s workforce development efforts from a set of unaligned programs to a resourced and strategic central strategy for mobility.
Affordability is workforce policy. Aligning workforce and economic development, sharpening oversight, and ensuring public investments translate to good jobs with real pathways to advancement are essential to delivering on New Yorkers’ priorities. Council leadership will determine whether the city’s workforce system truly works for jobseekers, employers, and communities alike.
NYCETC looks forward to working with the Speaker and the City Council to advance a more coordinated, accountable, and inclusive workforce system that upholds worker rights, supports business expansion, and promotes inclusive economic growth across New York City.