The Challenge
The traditional way of acquiring tech skills—expensive and time-consuming—is out of reach for many New Yorkers, preventing them from embarking on lucrative tech careers. There is no unified strategy to prepare New York City’s workforce for in-demand tech jobs, despite rapid growth and an overwhelming need for tech workers. It is therefore vital to establish an innovative approach that aligns supply and demand, equipping jobseekers with the necessary skills and resources to thrive in this dynamic environment.
When JobsFirst NYC launched the Tech Sector Network in 2021:
only
1 in 5
tech sector jobs were held by Black and Hispanic workers despite this population making up 43% of NYC’s overall workforce
only
19%
of tech training programs equipped grads for advanced-skill tech jobs, not meeting the market demand
tech industry was the
3rd-largest
employment sector for younger New Yorkers
Approach
The Tech Sector Network promotes skills-based hiring to meet labor demand in partnership with employers, and organizes and expands skilling and upskilling opportunities to increase New Yorkers’ access to high-wage jobs and advance their economic mobility.
By enabling employers to tell trainers what skills workers need today and in the future, collaborating on customized training to meet labor market demands, and providing a steady pipeline of qualified talent, the Network aims to forge an inclusive and thriving tech industry with accessible and market-driven training that leads to economic opportunity. The Tech Sector Network is committed to:
Organizing and expanding customized training and upskilling across tech skills training providers.
Strengthening collective mechanisms to negotiate with employers.
Systematizing a Network referral system to bolster the talent pipeline.
Advancing a skills-based (vs. degree-based) hiring approach as a more efficient, inclusive, and effective recruitment process.
Impact
The Network has completed the investigate, imagine, and incubate phases of JobsFirst NYC’s partnership development process and is currently in the implementation phase, which will impact technical career pathways and job quality, ultimately benefiting jobseekers and employers alike.
$130K
Funds Raised & Leveraged
98+
Young Adults Served
27+
Employers Engaged
Our Partners
