SBS Celebrates Workforce Development Month Highlighting Record Growth in Citywide Training and Hiring

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2025

SBS CELEBRATES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH HIGHLIGHTING RECORD GROWTH IN CITYWIDE TRAINING AND HIRING

More than 250,000 New Yorkers Have Used City's Workforce1 System Since Start of Administration

NEW YORK - Today, New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Dynishal Gross announced that SBS's 18 Workforce1 Career Centers have provided more than 250,000 New Yorkers with employment services including job placement, training, coaching, and resume workshops since the start of the Adams administration. During the same period, Workforce1 Career Centers connected more than 81,000 New Yorkers to good paying jobs. The announcement coincides with Workforce Development Month, a monthlong celebration of citywide workforce development programs and initiatives, highlighting the Adams administration's efforts to ensure that opportunity is available to all New Yorkers, in 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.

"Making New York City the best place to raise a family means connecting New Yorkers to good-paying jobs - our administration's job training and placement programs are delivering on that mission every month, helping hundreds of thousands of people find the opportunity they've been waiting for," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "It's no coincidence that our administration has shattered the jobs record over and over again. From our Workforce1 Career Centers that bring job seekers and employers together to our investments in emerging industries like biotech and artificial intelligence, our administration is working every day to grow the economy and get New Yorkers the jobs they need."

"Congratulations to Commissioner Gross, the SBS team, and all of our training and employment partners for reaching so many New Yorkers around the city with game-changing workforce and employment services," said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrion Jr. "I know these numbers happen because of hundreds of staff members thinking creatively about how to meet New Yorkers where they are and working hard everyday to connect our neighbors to opportunities that uplift them and their families."

"Since day one of this administration, our top priority has been to build a New York City where opportunities for economic stability and growth are available to everyone," said SBS Commissioner Dynishal Gross. "Between SBS's commitment to providing free, transformative training programs, expert services to connect New Yorkers with career opportunities in high-growth, in-demand industries, and helping small businesses to hire locally, we continue to drive unemployment down and push record-high labor participation."

Today's announcement comes as the city continues to break employment records, labor force participation records, and historic declines in unemployment across all demographics, including double-digit drops in Black and brown unemployment since the start of the Adams administration.

The announcement of these milestones in the Workforce1 system also comes as the city is expanding its Jobs NYC initiative through several community-based partners which will provide specialized employment and training services including:

• Bronx Tech Hub will launch the "Prompt Engineering Accelerator," six-week program training 60 participants in AI prompt engineering, with focus on employability in tech, education, customer service, and marketing.
• The Inspired Community Project will fund the Behavioral Health Apprenticeship Program to support current apprentices with paid clinical training, weekly instruction, mentorship, and certification.
• Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) will launch an HVAC training cohort for 35 New Yorkers as part of a Renewable Energy & Sustainable Construction program.

The expansion of the Jobs NYC initiative reflects the original goal of the program: meeting New Yorkers who have faced barriers to employment in their neighborhoods and providing them with hands-on resources and new opportunities for professional development.

Jobs NYC Hiring Halls target communities with the highest levels of chronic unemployment and bring jobs directly to New Yorkers, helping them onto a pathway of steady employment. These events connect jobseekers with opportunities in both the public and private sectors, offering on-site interviews and access to resources including resume workshops, interview coaching, and access to the full suite of programming offered by SBS's Workforce1 Career Centers. Since the start of 2024, more than 14,500 New Yorkers have attended a Jobs NYC Hiring Hall, resulting in more than 4,500 on-site interviews and over 2,000 conditional job offers.

These milestones follow other major developments in the city's workforce, including an announcement made by Mayor Adams during Disability Pride Month that the city has connected more than 1,350 New Yorkers with disabilities to good-paying jobs - putting the city on track to meet this goal of 2,500 hires by 2026.

Additionally, the New York City Mayor's Office for Talent and Workforce Development (NYC Talent) has delivered more than 15,000 apprenticeship opportunities to date, putting the city on track to meet Mayor Adams' moonshot goal of connecting 30,000 New Yorkers to apprenticeships by 2030, so that proven learn-and-earn models can support diverse, new sectors and occupations and create new good career pathways for students and young people.

"We are thrilled to celebrate Workforce Development Month alongside our partner SBS and applaud their work connecting more than 250,000 New Yorkers to career services, trainings, and good paying jobs since 2021," said Executive Director of the Office for Talent and Workforce Development Doug Lipari. "The new investments announced today will continue this success via exciting additions to SBS's critical workforce infrastructure, including the Workforce1 Career Center network and Jobs NYC initiative, and further delivers on this administration's commitment to the career success of all New Yorkers."

SBS will be observing Workforce Development Month by hosting recruitment and training events across the city. Those interested in attending an event can find more information on the Jobs NYC website.

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/workforce1. 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 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692) or visit on.nyc.gov/recruitment.

About the 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, visit nyc.gov/sbs, call 311, and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn.