More than 2,000 low-income New Yorkers will be able to pursue professions in the industrial and construction sectors due to a city employment initiative that began on August 22nd.

New York City Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers will be sponsored by a $18.6 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The money comes from a successful city proposal for the Good Jobs Challenge under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2020, as announced by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

The new program, New York City Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers, will assist job seekers in all aspects of employment, including recruitment and training, job placement, job retention, and advancement. 

The initiative seeks to place individuals in high-wage and/or union jobs, such as construction project managers, diesel mechanics, and general utility workers.

Officials in the city will target 2,300 individuals with a particular interest in construction and industrial vocations. 

“All New Yorkers deserve to earn a living wage and share in our city’s prosperity, and that’s why I’m proud to announce the Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers,” explained Mayor Adams.

According to the state comptroller's office, in 2020, New York’s construction industry was the fourth largest in the country but also the one with the most employment losses. 

“This is a dynamic new approach to workforce development and a major shift from the previous way jobseekers and employers were served,” Mayor Adams stated in the address. 

“And this isn’t just about a single program — we are applying this same philosophy to revolutionize our approach to talent development in New York City by signing an executive order to streamline the efforts of nearly two dozen city agencies and offices that administer these programs.”

The program is part of a larger push introduced by Adams on Monday with an executive order focusing on youth workforce development.

According to the Mayor’s office, the executive order will:

1. Develop and annually deliver a citywide, cross-agency talent and workforce development plan to the mayor.
2. Develop a talent portal dashboard to display citywide progress.
3. Office of Talent and Workforce Development should absorb the Mayor’s Office of Youth Employment and implement Project Labor Agreements/Community Hiring.
4. Entrust the Office of Talent and Workforce Development with managing and recommending Workforce Development Board nominations.
5. Four of the city’s current industry partnerships - healthcare, technology, construction, and manufacturing - will join the Office of Talent and Workforce Development to assist develop and advancing the citywide strategy.

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