December 9, 2025
The New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC) convened its 2025 Annual Conference: Advancing Affordability Through Jobs, Wages & Wealth, on December 9 – 10 at The Times Center in Midtown Manhattan, gathering more than 500 leaders from business, government, higher education, labor, philanthropy, and community organizations.
The two-day convening marked a pivotal moment for shaping a more equitable economic future for New Yorkers, bringing renewed focus to the systems and investments required to connect affordability, job quality, and long-term mobility. Leaders and practitioners examined how New York’s workforce systems must evolve to meet shifting labor-market demands, particularly in technology, healthcare, infrastructure, and climate resilience.
“Affordability is workforce policy,” said Gregory J. Morris, CEO of New York City Employment and Training Coalition. “When wages, supports, and systems fall out of sync, workers can’t move and employers can’t hire. Workforce development, and the people we serve, must anchor every vision for the city’s future. Aligning our systems and investing in job quality and real supports is how New York delivers stability, mobility, and a more affordable future.”