On the morning of April 12, 2024, at City Hall, we spoke with Sheena Wright, First Deputy Mayor; Jose Bayona, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Ethnic and Community Media; and Abby Jo Sigal, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development, regarding the Mayor’s Office Hiring Hall initiative.
Last year, the New York City (NYC) Mayor’s office and other agencies launched the Hiring Halls initiative, aimed at boosting employment opportunities in areas with high unemployment rates. These events are designed as comprehensive employment gatherings, providing job seekers with the chance to connect with municipal agencies, interview with employers, and even secure same-day job offers—all within their own neighborhoods.
Following the success and lessons learned from last year’s pilot program, NYC is now revamping its strategy and plans to hold Hiring Halls every month across the boroughs over the next few months. These events will serve as vital hubs for job seekers to engage with a variety of employers and training providers, including organizations like the City University of New York (CUNY) and their English language programs.
With NYC experiencing the highest private sector employment in its history, boasting a job market of 4.7 million, the initiative aims to refocus efforts on high-unemployment areas such as Harlem, Brownsville, Southeast Queens, the South Bronx, and others in a broader effort to stimulate local economies and combat joblessness.
Recognizing that effective support cannot solely originate from City Hall, the initiative will implement on-the-ground efforts, leveraging local assets and overcoming access barriers to connect resource providers, employers, and job seekers based on their aspirations and capabilities. These efforts also prioritize underrepresented groups, offering employment focused on providing living-wage jobs and establishing career pathways for entry-level positions.
The outreach strategies to promote these events encompass a comprehensive communication plan utilizing flyers, subway ads, robocalls, and text messaging campaigns, with over 176,000 messages sent to inform residents about local Hiring Halls.
New York City itself has 15,000 vacant positions across various departments, including social services, law enforcement, IT, and more, reflecting a broader hiring surge that encompasses around 300,000 city employees. City officials were pleased to boast about the successful negotiations with union workforces that have resulted in 99% of contracts being settled, with significant wage increases allocated to the nonprofit sector totaling $740 million. These funds were specifically directed to assist women, particularly women of color, in the nonprofit sector. Combined with other programs, this investment adds up to $1.4 billion funneled into the nonprofit sector.
During the roundtable interview, a few questions were asked regarding youth, undocumented individuals, and veterans:
- The youth employment program recently conducted by the Mayor’s office just closed, having received over 100,000 applications. City officials expressed satisfaction with the turnout and anticipate coordinating job placements for NYC youth, emphasizing the promise it brings.
- Enhanced support is being extended to the undocumented community, including increased childcare options and preparation programs for those who may gain work authorization in the future. Language access services will also be provided at Hiring Halls to ensure inclusivity.
- Although the Department of Veterans’ Services has been present at the Hiring Halls, other agencies such as the Office of Disability Services are more of a staple at these events.
This initiative signifies a long-term commitment to closing the employment gap in New York City, ensuring that economic prosperity is accessible to all residents. Each Hiring Hall will continuously adapt based on user feedback and needs, striving to create a user-friendly and effective environment for job matching. The City looks to continue its efforts and welcomes public input, suggestions, and assistance.
