The city's disconnected young people comprise a local, untapped resource. If their potential is recognized, they could have a tremendous positive effect on the city's economic health.

Home > About

About Us



The Challenges

  • Almost 223,000 of New York City's young adults are out of school, out of work and out of options.
  • Community-based organizations are stretched beyond their capacity to meet the workforce needs of these youth.
  • Employers need a ready workforce to replace retiring baby boomers.
  • Funders want measurable returns on their investment.
Our Mission

The mission of JobsFirst NYC is to help bring—effectively and efficiently—all available community, corporate, human, organization, private and public resources to accelerate the connecting of out-of-school and out-of-work young adults with the economic life of New York City.

Our Goals

By fostering communication and coordination and by providing expert guidance, JobsFirst NYC seeks to:

  • Engage employers and business partners. Involving employers in program design and service delivery is crucial to making training relevant to the needs of today's marketplace. Click here to learn about the Lower East Side Employment Network, a JobsFirst NYC-funded effort targeting the retail, hotel and hospitality sectors.
  • Attract more resources. To respond to the needs of almost a quarter of a million young people, service providers need resources to expand services and develop new and innovative models. Click here to learn about JobsFirst NYC's efforts to grow public resources by providing public information and sponsoring the Campaign for Tomorrow's Workforce.
  • Build a comprehensive continuum of youth services. When service providers work together collaboratively—creating systems where groups can specialize, refer and support young people in all aspects of their lives — stronger outcomes are the result. Click here to learn about the Sunset Park Alliance, a collaborative effort funded by JobsFirst NYC, where organizations have planned a better model for servicing young people within their neighborhood.
  • Improve quality of services delivered. Leadership training and access to professional consultants help service providers do more for more youth. Click here to learn about the Workforce Leaders Academy.

Our Financial Statements