NEW YORK, NY, May 28, 2026 – A new report from the New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC) finds that building a coordinated, demand-driven green workforce is essential to delivering both climate progress and affordability for New Yorkers. On the Ground: An Affordable Climate Economy outlines how aligning workforce development, business needs, and city leadership can unlock economic opportunity while advancing sustainability goals.
The report emphasizes that the green economy is not only a climate imperative but also a major economic opportunity, potentially creating at least 360,000 jobs by 2040, while lowering costs for residents through more efficient infrastructure, energy systems, and housing.
Key report takeaways include:
- Align climate and affordability goals: Frame the green economy around tangible benefits—lower utility bills, accessible transit, and stable jobs—to broaden impact and support.
- Treat workforce development as economic infrastructure: Better integrate training providers with business services to ensure talent pipelines meet real employer demand.
- Deliver locally: Support neighborhood-based small businesses and community organizations to connect New Yorkers to green jobs where they live.
- Leverage city government as a model employer: Use public-sector hiring and procurement to set the standard for effective workforce development.
- Invest in hands-on training capacity: Expand access to physical training spaces and emerging technologies critical to the clean energy transition.
The report concludes that stronger coordination across employers, educators, workforce providers, and government can turn climate investments into accessible, good-paying jobs, making New York City both more resilient and more affordable.
“New York City’s climate future and its affordability crisis are deeply connected, and both hinge on whether we build the workforce to deliver real, on-the-ground solutions,” said Gregory J. Morris, CEO, NYCETC. “The green economy can lower costs for New Yorkers, expand access to quality careers, and strengthen neighborhoods across the five boroughs. By better aligning training, business needs, and public investment, we can turn the transition to a cleaner, more resilient city into real opportunity for all.”
“As NYCETC’s report makes clear, climate action and economic justice must go hand in hand. The transition to a green economy is an opportunity to lower costs, strengthen communities, and create real pathways into family-sustaining careers for working-class New Yorkers,” said Assembly Member Amanda N. Septimo. “To make that vision real, we must invest in workforce development and ensure the jobs of the future are accessible to the communities most impacted by inequality and climate change.”
“New York City’s climate future begins and ends with workers,” said Council Member Julie Won. “This wonderful report makes clear that there is no way through one of the biggest challenges of our time without the training, empowering, and investment in New Yorkers who will rewire our grid, build bioswales, and ensure a resilient future for us all. New York City’s green economy holds the promise of 360,000 good jobs, but that promise is only fulfilled when we invest in the New Yorkers ready to do the work.”
“As New York’s green economy grows, affordability and access have to be built in from the start,” said Leslie Abbey, CEO, Hot Bread Kitchen. “For New Yorkers who face barriers to employment, that means creating intentional pathways into these emerging roles—especially in sectors where they’ve traditionally been underrepresented.”
“A workforce strategy that leaves out people with barriers to employment, especially justice-impacted people who comprise the largest pool of untapped talent, limits both impact and reach,” said Christopher Watler, Executive Vice President, Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO). “Expanding access to family-sustaining jobs is the foundation of the green economy.”
“Emerging industries can feel out of reach for young people navigating real barriers,” said Kalilah Moon, Executive Director, Drive Change. “What matters is building entry points that are concrete, supported, and connected to actual opportunity, so that the green economy is something they can step into, not just hear about.”
“The green economy is accelerating, and demand for skilled workers in green jobs is rising just as quickly,” said Debbie Roman, NY Workforce Development Program Manager, National Grid. “Meeting that demand will require stronger coordination across employers, training providers, and public systems.”
“New York City’s transition to a greener economy must be matched by an equal commitment to building inclusive workforce pathways,” said Marjorie D. Parker, CEO and President of JobsFirst and JobsFirst NYC. “That means investing in the partnerships, training systems, and community connections that help New Yorkers access good careers and participate in the city’s long-term economic growth. I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with NYCETC and our Green Economy Network to advance this shared agenda, with a focus on young adult New Yorkers who are out of school and out of work.”
“The transition to a greener economy will only succeed if workforce systems are equipped to meet the moment,” said Sherazade Langlade-Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of Workforce Professionals Training Institute (WPTI). “That means investing not only in workers, but in the practitioners, organizations, and partnerships that help connect New Yorkers to opportunity. Building a more resilient city requires a workforce ecosystem that is coordinated, responsive, and grounded in equity.”
“New York’s green economy workforce development must serve businesses while staying worker-centered, building skills that drive real outcomes for industries and residents. It’s not a niche sector—it underpins affordable housing, reliable energy, and livable neighborhoods,” said Marco Carrion, President, Center for Workforce Excellence (CWE). “A coordinated, intentional workforce system can turn the ‘resiliency economy’ into a powerful jobs agenda, advancing climate goals, lowering costs, improving services, and creating accessible, family-sustaining careers while strengthening small businesses.”
“Green jobs and career pathways are core drivers of NYC’s overall economy. They represent clear platforms for connecting climate action with economic mobility,” said Tonya Gayle, Executive Director, Green City Force. “Expanding green job access to every New Yorker across all demographics and backgrounds is central to building stronger, more resilient communities.”
“Delivering an affordable climate economy depends on building stronger connections between employers, workforce providers, and the communities most impacted by climate and economic inequities,” said Angela N. Son, Founder and CEO of The Green Launchpad. “As demand grows for building decarbonization and energy efficiency work, New York must invest in the partnerships and training infrastructure that prepare New Yorkers for the jobs driving the city’s clean energy transition.”
“The continued growth of the green economy depends on a workforce that can install, manage, and maintain clean energy systems,” said Stephen Levin, CEO, Solar One. “Expanding access to those green jobs is a critical next step.”
“Green jobs offer real potential for economic mobility, but only when workforce programs are aligned with how employers hire,” said Tracey Capers, Executive Director, The HOPE Program. “Strengthening that connection is essential to making the green economy work.”
“The growth of the green economy is creating new pathways to stable work while advancing a more sustainable future for New York City. Turning that momentum into lasting careers requires intentional training, consistent support, and clear connections to employment,” said Jennifer Mitchell, President and CEO, The Doe Fund. “At The Doe Fund, we’re proud to integrate green jobs into a broader portfolio of industry training programs that open doors to long-term opportunity.”
“Small and mid-sized businesses are doing much of the on-the-ground work in the green economy, yet they’re often left out of workforce strategy,” said Aaron Shiffman, Executive Director, Building Works (BWI). “Bringing them into the fold through better access to talent and more responsive support is critical to making this transition function at scale.”
“As a citywide construction skills training provider with a focus on green jobs and energy efficiency, the Andromeda Community Initiative (ACI) strongly supports the report’s call for focused efforts to bridge employer and job seeker demand and for the deliberate leveraging of City projects to create true entry-level opportunities in this growing sector,” said David Nidus, Executive Director, Andromeda Community Initiative. “We urge the City to recognize that only with real investment in skills training and employer networks can true opportunity for more New Yorkers really be developed.”
“The expansion of green jobs depends on how well workforce development is integrated into project delivery,” said David Meade, Executive Director, Building Skills NY. “Embedding workforce strategies directly into green economy investments is what drives results.”
“A strong green economy depends on more than skills—it depends on access to opportunity,” said Ayesha George, Executive Director at STRIVE New York. “When training is aligned with employer demand and backed by hiring partners, we create real pathways for New Yorkers to enter and grow in green careers.”
“New York City has a strong foundation of workforce programs and committed partners serving jobseekers and employers across the city,” said Paula Bailey, Executive Vice President, Grant Associates. “By continuing to strengthen the alignment between agencies, employers, and providers, we can build an even more human-centered system that delivers meaningful results at scale.”
“Staying focused on the green economy is an existential and economic imperative for cities everywhere, but meeting this moment will only be as promising as the systems we build to connect people to opportunity within it,” said Darren Bloch, NYCETC Board Member. “Expanding access to green jobs requires more than training alone—it calls for closer alignment between employers, workforce providers, government, and the communities where this work is happening; and I hope this report and analysis helps shed light on the urgency and opportunity of the moment.”
“New York’s workforce has the talent and drive to power the green economy,” said Kilsys Payamps-Roure, founding Executive Director of Braven New York City. “When training systems connect directly to where hiring is happening, capable New Yorkers are ready to step into these roles. Intentionally building those bridges will turn this moment into real mobility.”
“The green economy presents real opportunity, but only if workforce training, social supports, and employer demand are aligned,” said David Garza, President & CEO, Henry Street Settlement. “The coalition’s report is right on time because it acknowledges the three critical areas impacted by this work: economic justice for the community, fulfillment of industry needs, and protection of the climate from disasters that disproportionately affect lower-income communities. Creating this workforce structure is what allows more people to move into green jobs and what Henry Street Settlement and our partner Stacks+Joules have been working to achieve through our building automation systems training program, clean-energy internships, and more.”
“There’s a growing divide between where we’re cultivating talent and where green jobs are actually taking root,” said Diallo Shabazz, Managing Director, Braven Solutions. “And if we intend to build a green economy that is not only innovative, but inclusive and enduring, then closing that divide isn’t just good policy, it’s good governance.”
“As New York continues to grow its green economy, we have to make sure that opportunity is tangible for both workers and employers,” said Sunil Gupta, Vice President for Division of Adult Continuing Education & Workforce Development, LaGuardia Community College (CUNY). “Community colleges are uniquely positioned to help translate this moment into real career pathways by aligning training with industry needs and preparing New Yorkers for jobs that support both economic mobility and a more sustainable, affordable city.”
“Climate investments show up in very real ways for New Yorkers, through housing quality, safety, and cost,” said Valerie Payne, Executive Director, Rebuilding Together NYC. “The workforce behind that work is essential to making those benefits tangible across neighborhoods, especially for residents most impacted by aging infrastructure.”
“This report makes clear that New York City’s climate agenda will only succeed if we build the workforce systems to support it. That means aligning training, employer demand, and public investment so New Yorkers—especially those without traditional credentials—can access these careers,” said Ian Straughter, Executive Vice President & Chief Program Officer, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. “Neighborhood-based organizations are critical to making that connection real, and it’s the approach guiding our development of the SURGE initiative on Governors Island—a training hub designed to expand access to green economy careers.”
“The Urban Assembly remains committed to ensuring that students in New York City have access to the green jobs of the future,” said David Adams, CEO, The Urban Assembly. “From the Urban Assembly School for Green Careers to the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, innovation in education means exposing our students to skills that will enable them to thrive in a changing workforce.”
“As the green economy expands across New York City, access does not happen automatically, even when it occurs in or adjacent to communities historically marginalized and excluded,” said Greg Rideout & Evelyn Ortiz, Co-Chief Executive Officers, Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow. “Without structured pathways, aligned training, wraparound services, and employer partnership, these opportunities remain out of reach for the communities that need them most.”
“The green economy is active and growing across New York City’s industrial spaces,” said Nikki Evans, Senior Vice President of Workforce Development, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation. “At the Navy Yard, we know how critical it is for companies and workforce systems to connect, cooperate, and create meaningful infrastructure to help workers navigate varied career opportunities in the green sector. I am thrilled to see this report highlight and support making the Green Economy more accessible through workforce development. ”
“Connecting neighborhoods to the green economy is what makes opportunity real,” said Michael Partis, Executive Director, Red Hook Initiative (RHI). “When we expand access to green jobs at the local level, we create pathways to stable careers, strengthen community resilience, and make sure the benefits of climate investment reach the people and neighborhoods they’re meant to serve.”
“The growth of the green economy presents an opportunity to expand access to green jobs in the trades,” said Leah Rambo, President, Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW). “That progress depends on intentional strategies that open doors and support retention for women.”
“For young people, access to the green economy depends on early exposure and structured pathways,” said Robert T. Taylor, Executive Director, Youth Action Programs and Homes, Inc. “Without them, green jobs remain difficult to access.”
“As New York City’s green economy continues to grow, the success of this transition will depend on how effectively we connect New Yorkers to these opportunities,” said Associate Dean Christine Zagari LoPorto, Kingsborough Community College, Division of Workforce Development and Continuing Education. “This report highlights the critical role of workforce development systems in ensuring that climate investments translate into equitable, accessible careers for communities across the city.”
“The green economy intersects directly with housing, infrastructure, and community development,” said Larry Rothchild, Senior Managing Director of Workforce Development, St. Nicks Alliance. “Workforce strategies must include career exploration, career training for Green Economy jobs, while connecting our community to green jobs and preparing them for career advancement opportunities that support economic sustainability in North and Central Brooklyn and across NYC.”
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About New York City Employment and Training Coalition
As the largest city-based workforce development association in the country, the New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC) supports the workforce and economic development community to ensure that every New Yorker has access to the skills, training and education needed to thrive in the local economy; and that every business can maintain a highly skilled workforce. Throughout its 25-year history, NYCETC has sought to increase the availability of and access to investments and supports that position underserved New Yorkers — primarily New Yorkers of color, New Yorkers with low- or moderate incomes, New Yorkers with multiple barriers to employment, and New Yorkers who have been left out of the growing economy due to systemic and historic marginalization – for success in the workforce. Currently, 224 organizations are members of the NYCETC. These organizations are responsible for serving the needs of 200,000+ New Yorkers seeking access to education and employment opportunities each year. The primary recipients of services are women, young adults (18-24 years of age), public housing residents, justice-impacted individuals, and immigrants.
Media Contact
Emily Kaufold, emily@hayesinitiative.com, (203) 295-5783