What They are Saying: New Yorkers Show Support for Mayor Adams' Blueprint for Future of NYC's Talent and Workforce

June 21, 2023

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today unveiled ‘Pathways to an Inclusive Economy’ — a blueprint for making significant improvements in talent development, job training, and employment services across the five boroughs. The blueprint, developed by the Future of Workers Task Force and established by Mayor Adams in Executive Order 22 last summer, is already being delivered on through FutureReadyNYC — a historic expansion of technology-career pipelines for New York City students, including through major commitments from tech giant Google — which was announced earlier today. The blueprint focuses on five core strategies to advance an employer-driven workforce training system, prepare New Yorkers for long-term career success, and ensure New York City’s employers can tap the talent they need by:

1. Reimagining and empowering the New York City Workforce Development Board with increased private sector leadership;
2. Creating and administering a new public-private Talent Investment Fund, launched with an initial commitment of $15 million from the city, which will be matched by private funds;
3. Expanding access to apprenticeships, affirming Mayor Adams’s committed moonshot goal of supporting 30,000 apprentices in New York City by 2030;
4. Establishing shared impact metrics to articulate and report system-level outcomes and measure progress; and
5. Improving the user experience for employers engaging with the public workforce system, starting by building an employer-facing “front door.”

“I am thrilled to release the 'Pathways to an Inclusive Economy' — our blueprint that will chart a transformative course for talent and workforce development in New York City,” said Mayor Adams. “This blueprint, informed by the invaluable recommendations of the Future of Workers Task Force, sets the stage for a future where our workforce is empowered, our jobseekers find meaningful opportunities, and our businesses thrive. Together, we will reinvigorate job training and employment services, foster strategic partnerships, and ensure that our workforce programs have the necessary resources to drive economic growth and equity. I am confident that this blueprint will pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous New York City.” 

See below for what they are saying:

“The Future of Workers Task Force convened by Mayor Adams and its resulting blueprint report represent months of collaboration and years of collective expertise from dozens of partners who are committed to a thriving, inclusive New York City economy. The blueprint provides a road map to coordinate resources, lift up best practices, and build and sustain momentum within the city’s talent ecosystem to better support New York City employers and New Yorkers of all ages in search of good jobs and opportunity,” said Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director Abby Jo Sigal. “I am exceedingly grateful to the mayor and co-chairs for their leadership, and to all of our task force members and advisors for sharing their time, expertise, and insights. These strategies are already in motion and the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development will continue to bring together public and private partners so that more New Yorkers find career success and employers can tap the talent they need to thrive.”

“Setting up New Yorkers for career success and further propelling our city's economic growth has been at the very core of CUNY’s mission for the last 175 years,” said The City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodriguez. “But our students’ success depends on many stakeholders working together to make sure students prevail in school and after earning their degree. The blueprint report of Mayor Adams' Future of Workers Task Force reaffirms the necessity and great value of these partnerships. CUNY looks forward to working with the mayor to implement this vision, and expand the data-driven strategies that will help our schools prepare more New Yorkers for career success.”

"The strategies developed by the Future of Workers Task Force will ensure that our city's small businesses continue to have access to the world-class talent that has always been New York's greatest asset," said New York City Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Kevin D. Kim. "When we invest in our young people, apprenticeship programs, and public-private partnerships, we guarantee that our city's future will be bright, and that our small businesses will have the workforce they need to thrive."

“I couldn’t agree more that talent is New York City’s greatest asset,” said Carmine Di Sibio, global chairman and CEO, EY. “We all have a responsibility to build the ecosystem of support that gives all New Yorkers the opportunities the city is famous for. This collaborative effort recommends five strategic ways we can make that happen. Let’s get busy.”

“The Future of Workers Task Force and resulting blueprint offer a road map for how public and private partners must collaborate, innovate, and invest to better serve New Yorkers,” said Lisette Nieves, president, Fund for the City of New York. “We look forward to years of continued work together to build the equitable talent and workforce development system that we all deserve — as jobseekers, employers, educators, funders, and more — so that our city continues to thrive.”

“It was my privilege to join Mayor Adams’ Future of Workers Taskforce and collaborate with my fellow co-chairs, employers, educators, and labor leaders to set a citywide vision for talent and workforce development to aid our city’s economic comeback,” said Katy Gaul-Stigge, CEO, Goodwill NY/NJ. “This report calls for systemic change and this administration is taking action with Executive Order 22 to put workforce strategy in the center. As a non-profit provider who is on the front lines we know that the call for more collaboration is only the first step. For example, Goodwill’s Bridge to Technology program has helped equip individuals with the necessary skills to qualify for, and graduate from, a range of advanced technology trainings and obtain in-demand tech jobs in partnership with other non-profits and CUNYs. I am excited to partner on these recommendations: to have a more transparent funding system for the workforce, a reinvigorated Workforce Development Board, to achieve the goals of 30,000 apprenticeships, and to building a talent system worthy of New York City.”

“These recommendations provide a roadmap for building and sustaining a robust, skilled workforce that reflects the rich diversity of our city.” said Kiersten Barnet, executive director, New York Jobs CEO Council. “The Future of Workers Task Force mobilized our fragmented workforce development ecosystem to collectively scale solutions and drive long-term, inclusive economic growth.”

“Mobility for workers – whether they are starting their careers or mid-career – is critical to the vitality, communities, and economic development of New York City,” said Angie Kamath, dean, New York University School of Professional Studies. “This roadmap makes concrete recommendations on how we can ensure that opportunity and access is transparent, accessible, and available for all New Yorkers.”

“Through Executive Order 22 and the convening of the Future of Work Task Force, Mayor Adams has acknowledged the historic and systemic disconnections in New York City’s efforts to prepare working people for the 21st century and our city’s unique capacity to produce a robust, resilient, and inclusive recovery by responding to urgent needs while building the scaffolding for future opportunity,” said Gregory J. Morris, CEO, New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC). “As a member of the Task Force and longtime education and employment service provider, I know a collaborative commitment to this blueprint is the truest pathway to not only workforce development, but economic development. When New York talent succeeds regardless of their point on the journey – first job, upskill, reskill, or second act career – our city thrives.”

“Google has been an essential partner in bringing our public education system into the digital age,” stated Kathryn Wylde, president & CEO, Partnership for New York City. “With this investment, Google is leading the effort to ensure that the city’s youth are well prepared to pursue careers in our growing tech sector, and demonstrating how industry leaders can work hand-in-hand with government to create opportunities for all New Yorkers, as underscored in the Future of Workers Taskforce blueprint report released today.”