Follow the Money: Who NYC’s Workforce Dollars Really Serve

In our inaugural podcast episode, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris breaks down the urgent realities shaping New York City’s workforce development ecosystem. From how public dollars are being spent to support job seekers to the widening gap between low-wage and high-wage workers, Gregory brings sharp insight and lived experience to a critical conversation.This episode is your inside look at:Where New York City’s $640M workforce funding is really going, and who it’s leaving behind.A reality check on underemployment in NYC, including the overlooked crisis facing middle-wage earners.Why adult workforce development is underfunded and how that impacts long-term economic mobility.The challenges nonprofits face in navigating NYC's contracting and procurement systems.A candid call to philanthropy and business leaders to commit to long-term, multi-year workforce investments.How equity, accessibility, and diversity must become core tenets of the city’s workforce future.With underemployment topping 900,000 residents, stagnant wages in fast-growing industries like healthcare and hospitality, and a vanishing middle class, NYC must rethink how it invests in its workers. This episode dives into the disconnect between economic development and workforce development, and how to fix it. Whether you’re a policymaker, nonprofit leader, business owner, funder, or job seeker, this episode lays out what’s at stake and what must change.Explore the full conversation on how to build a workforce system that works for everyone.Topics: Workforce development, public funding, underemployment, youth employment, equity, nonprofit contracting, economic mobility, NYC jobs, middle class, training programs