FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2025

SBS CELEBRATES ADAMS ADMINISTRATION'S JOBS WEEK, HIGHLIGHTING WORKFORCE1 SYSTEM'S SUCCESS IN SERVING OVER 71,000 NEW YORKERS SINCE THE START OF ADMINISTRATION

Milestone Includes Connecting Over 1,900 Individuals with Disabilities, More Than 3,200 Veterans and Veteran Spouses, and Over 1,000 "New" New Yorkers to Jobs, Expanding Economic Mobility for Immigrant Communities

City Announces Additional $340,000 in Funding for NCLEX Nurse Training Program

NEW YORK – Today, New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Dynishal Gross announced that New York City's 18 Workforce1 Career Centers have served more than 71,000 New Yorkers since the start of the Adams administration, which includes job placement services for more than 1,900 individuals with disabilities, 3,200 veterans and their spouses, and 1,000 "new" New Yorkers through the city's American Dream Works program. The announcement followed the start of Jobs Week, a weeklong celebration highlighting the Adams administration's efforts to ensure job opportunities reach every borough, block, and neighborhood; and uplifting the city's commitment to make New York City the best, most affordable place to raise a family.

These workforce development milestones follow the New York City Economic Development Corporation's (NYCEDC) first "State of the Economy" report announcing that the city's labor market has reached new records in both private sector employment and labor force participation rate.

Finally, today's announcement comes as the city celebrated breaking the all-time high jobs record for eighth time last week, with unemployment rates dropping across all demographics.

"New York City has experienced unprecedented job growth since the start of the Adams administration, and we're just getting started," said SBS Commissioner Dynishal Gross. "Our Workforce1 Career Centers have been at the forefront of this success, training, certifying, and placing thousands of New Yorkers into high-growth, in-demand industries. This Jobs Week, we are redoubling our efforts to reach every borough and ensure all New Yorkers have access to the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive in our city's fast-paced workforce landscape."

SBS's 18 Workforce1 Career Centers provide New Yorkers with no-cost services, including interview prep, resume workshops, skills training, and job placement. Jobseekers can learn more by calling 311 or visiting nyc.gov/getwork. Workforce1 benefits jobseekers and businesses alike by working directly with employers in all five boroughs across the city to fill vacancies with qualified, pre-screened candidates. Businesses looking to hire employees should call 311 or visit on.nyc.gov/recruitment.

Additionally, under the Adams Administration, SBS and the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) have built on the success of MOPD's NYC At Work initiative by training Workforce1 staff on providing career services to New Yorkers with disabilities and embedding expert counselors in the downtown Brooklyn Workforce1 hub. These efforts are a major contributor to the city's strong progress in meeting the mayor's 2023 goal of connecting 2,500 New Yorkers with disabilities to good-paying jobs and careers over three years, as tracked by the Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion within the Mayor's Office of Talent and Workforce Development.

Moreover, through the citywide Jobs NYC initiative, SBS has served more than 11,000 New Yorkers at 31 hiring halls across all five boroughs. Jobs NYC Hiring Halls connect jobseekers with opportunities in both the public and private sectors, and attendees can participate in on-site interviews and access workforce development programs. Since the start of 2024, this effort has resulted in nearly 3,300 on-site interviews and over 1,200 conditional job offers. Jobs NYC Hiring Halls are targeted towards communities with the highest levels of chronic unemployment and are designed to bring jobs to the communities who need them most and put New Yorkers on the pathway to steady employment.

"Workforce1 is the backbone of the city's workforce development infrastructure, and we applaud our partners at SBS for helping more than 71,000 New Yorkers since 2022 get connected to career opportunities, training, professional development, and other critical supports that help position the city's diverse talent for career success and economic mobility," said New York City Mayor's Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director Abby Jo Sigal. "Today's announcement demonstrates why our continued partnership with SBS and MOPD is critical to achieving our citywide goal of connecting 2,500 New Yorkers with disabilities to careers, and the importance of investing in Jobs NYC Hiring Halls that continue to deliver critical workforce resources directly into the communities that have historically contended with the highest rates of unemployment."

"We applaud the administration's successful efforts to connect New Yorkers, including New Yorkers with disabilities, to employment and are proud to be a part of those efforts through the NYC: ATWORK program," said MOPD Commissioner Christina Curry. "We look forward to continuing to create pathways to independence for all New Yorkers with disabilities."

These milestones in workforce development and hiring also come as the city announced an additional $340,000 in funding for the city's no-cost NCLEX-RN Training Program for English Language Learners, which addresses the city's critical nursing shortage while creating pathways to economic mobility for immigrant New Yorkers. By leveraging untapped expertise, the program connects internationally trained nurses with the resources needed to secure licensure and high-paying roles in New York City's hospitals and clinics.

Since its launch, the NCLEX-RN program has delivered marked success: 94 percent of participants pass the NCLEX-RN exam, compared to the national average of 70 percent. With average salaries for program graduates exceeding $100,000, the expansion of this program exemplifies SBS's commitment to addressing workforce shortages while enhancing economic opportunities for immigrant communities. Since 2022, the Adams administration has invested $2.8 million in the NCLEX-RN program, with this latest expansion bringing that total to over $4 million for 2026.

About the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
SBS helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building vibrant neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information on all SBS services, go to nyc.gov/sbs, call 888-SBS-4NYC, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.