Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Gregory J. Morris, CEO of New York City Employment Training Coalition on Workforce Development and Economic Growth
2:01:53
ยท
133 sec
Gregory J. Morris, CEO of the New York City Employment Training Coalition, emphasizes the critical need to align workforce development strategies with economic development initiatives. He highlights the importance of creating accessible job opportunities, focusing on job quality and career advancement, and addressing high unemployment rates among specific demographics in New York City.
- Calls for making workforce development a core requirement in publicly funded economic development initiatives
- Stresses the need for tracking and evaluating private sector investment in workforce solutions
- Argues that economic growth should translate into opportunities for those facing the highest barriers to employment
Gregory J. Morris
2:01:53
Good afternoon, majority leader.
2:02:00
Thank you for making this time.
2:02:01
It's much appreciated.
2:02:03
I always appreciate the presentations from EDC because I learn about where all the jobs are anticipated.
2:02:08
And all I can think to myself is as the CEO of the New York City Employment Training Coalition is how it's possible to ensure that the workforce development strategies are in place to ensure that those particular jobs in every particular region are actually accessible to local job seekers.
2:02:22
True, by the way, that New York City is experiencing record high employment levels.
2:02:26
But what we don't talk about, as you know, is wages.
2:02:28
We don't talk about quality jobs, and we don't talk about career advancement.
2:02:32
And we certainly aren't spending the time that we should addressing the outrageously high unemployment rates for black men and young adults in New York City.
2:02:40
Economic development cannot thrive without a skilled diverse workforce to support business growth and innovation, and workforce development cannot be effective without clear pathways to high quality jobs and expanding industries.
2:02:52
Workforce funding, economic development investments, and philanthropic efforts must all be intertwined to ensure that our most effective programs and initiatives, exist to create on ramps for new workers, reskilling upskilling options like those provided by folks on the panel, and second act careers for those in need of those opportunities.
2:03:11
As identified by NYC ETC, the organization of 220 members I'm proud to represent as part of its workforce development agenda released just last week.
2:03:22
We are hoping that this council, led by this committee, ensures that making workforce development a core requirement of publicly funded economic development initiatives is at the fore of our focus to ensure that those programs are resourced, and that we continue to focus on tracking and evaluating private sector investment and workforce solutions.
2:03:44
So we don't just have a presentation about the number of jobs.
2:03:46
We can actually talk about who receives them, how well they're doing over time, and how it is that they continue to grow in those opportunities.
2:03:53
Workforce development is not an isolated social service but an economic imperative.
2:03:57
Economic growth is meaningless if it does not translate into opportunities for those facing the highest barriers to employment.
2:04:03
I know you know that and I'm grateful for this time.