Roughly representing half of New Yorkers living in the state, the New York City Council overwhelmingly supports nation-leading action to create good-paying jobs
New York, NY – Today, the New York City Council unanimously passed Resolution 522, introduced by Council Members Julie Menin and Nantasha Williams, as a measure urging the New York State Legislature to pass the Good Jobs Guarantee Act and its enactment. The Good Jobs Guarantee Act aims to empower workforce training programs with new funding sources and expand high-quality employment opportunities for low-income New Yorkers without a four-year college degree. Resolution 522 was passed during the Council’s stated meeting on Thursday, December 19, 2024.
The resolution was voted out of the Committee on Civil Service and Labor earlier today and counted with the support of committee Chair Carmen De La Rosa and the backing of co-sponsors Justin L. Brannan, Gale A. Brewer, Shekar Krishnan, Lynn C. Schulman, Carmen N. De La Rosa, Kevin C. Riley, Farah N. Louis, Chris Banks, Eric Dinowitz, Erik D. Bottcher, Tiffany Cabán, Carlina Rivera, Amanda Farías, and Kamillah Hanks.
“It is crucial now more than ever to support workforce development programs that help bridge the income and professional gap for everyday New Yorkers. These vital programs will help level the playing field in the tech industry, ensuring that talented individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds receive the growth opportunities and talent recognition they deserve. I am grateful to Speaker Adrienne Adams for advancing this resolution that calls on New York State to pass the Good Jobs Guarantee Act,” said Council Member Julie Menin.
"Ensuring all New Yorkers have access to good paying jobs and the skills needed to thrive in today’s economy is essential to building a more equitable city and state. I am proud to support Resolution 0522-2024, calling on the State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign the Good Jobs Guarantee Act. This legislation will not only provide critical workforce training but also create pathways to economic mobility for our communities, empowering individuals and families to secure a brighter future. I commend Council Member Menin for her leadership on this vital issue and urge swift action to make this vision a reality," said Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams.
"The New York City Council’s vote demonstrates our city’s commitment to economic mobility," said Jukay Hsu, CEO and Co-founder. "The Good Jobs Guarantee Act will set up the foundation for additional workforce training funding that is reliable and self-sustaining. With this expanded funding source, New York shows its commitment to creating jobs for New Yorkers and ensuring they have the skills to meet the demand."
The Good Jobs Guarantee Act would establish an innovative funding model that would create:
- Accountability Standards for Training Programs: Creating access to funding for workforce training models that use an outcomes-based approach and secure employment above an income threshold.
- Debt-Free Training Opportunities: Ensuring that individuals, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, can access meaningful work without incurring or accruing debt through field-leading consumer protections.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Leveraging social impact investing to provide sustainable, well-paying job opportunities that leave New Yorkers across the state better off than when they started a training program.
As outlined in the resolution, nearly two-thirds of American workers lack a four-year college degree, a challenge disproportionately affecting Black and Latino communities. Additionally, the overwhelming majority of jobs in New York City paying $60,000 or more require such a degree. The Good Jobs Guarantee Act seeks to close these gaps, fostering economic mobility and addressing long-standing disparities.
“Our vote today demonstrates the Council’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that all New Yorkers, regardless of educational attainment, can access high-quality jobs that offer dignity and financial security,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, Chair of the Civil Service and Labor Committee.
Resolution 522 now calls on Albany lawmakers to prioritize the passage of the Good Jobs Guarantee Act. The proposed legislation is sponsored in the State Senate by Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris and in the State Assembly by Assemblywoman Nily Rozic.
"I applaud the City Council for passing this resolution in support of my Good Jobs Guarantee Act," said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. "I will continue working to make career opportunities and education accessible for more New Yorkers."
“Every New Yorker deserves the opportunity to succeed. With the passage of Resolution 522, the NYC Council has sent a clear message to Albany: prioritize bold solutions like the Good Jobs Guarantee Act. This legislation will break down barriers, create pathways to good-paying jobs, and invest in our communities. I’m grateful to the Council for their support and to Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris for his partnership in championing this effort,” said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic.
About the Good Jobs Guarantee Act
The Good Jobs Guarantee Act proposes a nation-leading model to help proven adult workforce development platforms like Pursuit access new and sustained funding sources. The policy would leverage the strength of the public and private sectors to connect New Yorkers to better paying jobs and keep up with the emerging talent demands by creating a state-backed guarantor fund to facilitate investment in the private sector in job training.
The legislation calls for the creation of a $100M guarantor fund that would facilitate the investment of $1B in private capital over the next 10 years. This policy has the opportunity to train New Yorkers for 24,000 good-paying jobs across the state over the next decade, increasing their lifetime earnings by $6.5B and creating $21.5B in total economic output across the state, according to independent analysis by the economic and accounting firm HR&A.
For more information on Resolution 522 or the Good Jobs Guarantee Act, please contact GoodJobsGuaranteeAct@pursuit.org.
