The conversation was directly shaped by a Center for an Urban Future (CUF) report, developed in partnership with NYCETC and JobsFirstNYC, which was cited extensively throughout the hearing and helped inform Council priorities.
Key Takeaways
- The hearing commenced with testimony from Lauren Andersen, Vice Chancellor for Career Engagement & Industry Partnerships at CUNY, and Doug Lipari, Executive Director of the Office of Talent and Workforce Development. Each panelist shared details on several strong cross-agency partnerships designed to support young New Yorkers in building skills, gaining work experience, and preparing for career success. The panelists stressed their close collaboration and support across agency lines.
- Highlighted programs included CUNY Career Launch, through which 2,000 CUNY students connect with paid work each summer; College Now, a partnership of CUNY with NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) through which 31,000 high school students earned college credit last school year; and Work, Learn & Grow, a partnership of CUNY and NYCPS with the Department of Youth and Community Development that offers college credit, postsecondary planning, and paid internship to over 6,500 high school students annually.
- On the adult side, Lipari noted that the City’s Community Hiring initiative has over 200 procurements now open. At full implementation, Community Hiring will leverage more than $20 billion in city contracts per year to connect New Yorkers to employment opportunities. Mr. Lipari also mentioned that his office manages an annual budget of $2.7 million.
As the Committee on Workforce Development continues its work, NYCETC urges Chair Julie Won and her colleagues to consider how best to support the development of a workforce system aligned with equitable growth. Reflecting the cross-cutting nature of workforce development, the Committee should continue to convene joint hearings that clarify how employment and workforce services connect to key policy areas—including K–12 and higher education, the social safety net, economic development, immigration, accessibility and inclusion, justice-impacted individuals, and the older adult and caregiver workforce.
Recommended Areas for Future Hearings
- NYC’s Plans to Serve Prime-Age Jobseekers and Workers. With testimony from the Department of Small Business Services and the Human Resources Administration, the Committee should review programs that support jobseekers and low-income incumbent workers—including the implementation of SNAP work requirements—to surface best practices, identify service gaps, and ensure alignment between engagement strategies and pathways to sustainable employment.
- Meeting the Talent Needs of Small and Mid-Sized Businesses. In partnership with the Committee on Small Business, the Workforce Committee should call upon SBS, HRA, DYCD, and the NYCEDC to detail how they are engaging small and mid-sized employers to fill critical vacancies, strengthen retention, and create clear pathways for worker advancement.
- Workforce Opportunities Related to the World Cup. With the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Committee should examine how the City is aligning workforce development strategies with large-scale events—particularly in sectors such as hospitality, transportation, security, and tourism. Hearings should assess how local talent pipelines—including NYCHA residents and historically disconnected New Yorkers—are being prepared to access these jobs, how small and mid-sized businesses are supported to participate, and how short-term event employment can translate into long-term career pathways.
Watch the Hearing
A recording of the hearing, Aligning Higher Education with Workforce Demand, is available on the New York City Council website. We’ve included timestamps below to feature testimony.
- Eli Dvorkin (CUF): 1 hour 59 minutes
- Gregory J. Morris (NYCETC): 2 hours 46 minutes — delivered public testimony emphasizing the need for stronger system alignment to better connect New Yorkers to quality jobs.
- NYCETC Member Kalani Leifer (COOP Careers): 2 hours 53 minutes