New York Jobs CEO Council Joins Amazon Web Services to Deliver Tech Skills Training Program Aligned to In-Demand Jobs
Initiative brings together a coalition of Fortune 500 companies and the New York City Mayor’s Office to integrate career-readiness and address skills gaps to accelerate job placements for learners at CUNY’s Queensborough Community College and other higher education institutions in the city
New York City, New York — April 18, 2023 — At a press conference today, the New York Jobs CEO Council (Jobs Council), Amazon Web Services (AWS), the City University of New York (CUNY), Queensborough Community College, and the New York City (NYC) Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development and the Tech Talent Pipeline announced a collaborative effort to transform technical education for community colleges and universities across the city to better align with in-demand jobs. This effort includes employer engagement from Accenture, BNY Mellon, Bank of America, Citi, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC to support the development of modernized curricula aligned to entry-level jobs in software engineering, cloud support, cyber security, and data integration.
“We applaud this collaboration and commitment. Tapping the city’s unrivaled scale and diversity of talent enables New York City’s tech sector to thrive,” said the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director, Abby Jo Sigal. “Industry collaborations such as these have a track record of positioning New Yorkers for tech jobs. That’s good for our economy, employers, and New Yorkers.”
To build these skills-based pathways, participating institutions at CUNY and beyond will have access to AWS and employer-supported resources to update existing degree and certificate programs. Employers will work with education institutions to review technical and leadership skills, as well as competency levels required for in-demand technical roles to customize curricula. As the nation’s largest urban university system with 25 colleges spread across NYC, more than 80% of CUNY graduates stay in New York adding to the city’s economy. Starting with Queensborough Community College and several other participating CUNY campuses, this unique initiative will help build a more diverse, competitive workforce in the city by providing learners with a comprehensive understanding of the latest technology and business trends.
“New York is rapidly becoming one of the nation’s fastest growing tech hubs, where organizations of all sizes and sectors are using technology to power business growth,” said Kim Majerus, Vice President, Global Education, US State and Local Government, AWS. “The city’s diverse ecosystem of future talent and intentional commitment to building pathways to tech careers—through both non-traditional programs like bootcamps and traditional education—helped set the foundation for this collaborative initiative. Together the Jobs Council, AWS, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development and the Tech Talent Pipeline, CUNY, and a variety of leading employers will better prepare New Yorkers for in-demand careers.”
The initiative will deliver best practices for workforce development to support learners on their journey from the first course to securing a job. Program alignment is anticipated to begin spring 2023, and education institutions are already involved with this initiative. Queensborough Community College is already working with AWS and additional education institutions are planning to participate, including the Borough of Manhattan Community College, and the College of Staten Island.
“Ensuring that CUNY students can launch and advance in rewarding careers is a top priority for our University,” said Félix Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor, CUNY. “In order to make this a reality, we must partner with industry leaders to ensure that students have access to all they need to be successful. I applaud QCC, BMCC, and CSI and our allies at AWS and the Jobs Council for recognizing that, by collaborating, we can grow the talent our city needs.”
Learners need education and skills training programs that prepare them to succeed in a changing labor market. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2025, 50% of the workforce will need to reskill to meet industry demands. This initiative will connect employers and the Jobs Council directly with students to provide internships, capstone projects, direct engagement through advising and mentoring, and more.
“The Jobs Council is committed to bridging the gaps between industry and education in order to support the economic advancement of low-income and diverse New Yorkers”, said Kiersten Barnet, Executive Director at the New York Jobs CEO Council. “AWS is arming CUNY students with the tech skills that we know lead to high-paying jobs.”
In addition, AWS and participating employers will support education and training providers with resources including skills-based curricula, guidance on how to introduce foundational cloud skills into classrooms, and support to integrate additional skills training content from leading education technology providers.
“Business strategies continue to lead to technology – particularly cloud, data, AI and security,” said Laura Peterson, Accenture Senior Managing Director, NY. “Through collaborations like this, communities gain access to skills development and training opportunities, strengthening the future workforce and ultimately the economy. We are proud to support AWS, CUNY, and the Jobs Council who are helping to unleash untapped potential that will benefit organizations and society today and in the future.”
About the New York Jobs CEO Council
The New York Jobs CEO Council is a nonprofit membership intermediary that works to scale sustainable, market-driven workforce development solutions that benefit both jobseekers and businesses. Led by CEOs of large employers, the Jobs Council is committed to hiring 100,000 low-income and diverse New Yorkers into in-demand careers, including 25,000 jobseekers from the City University of New York (CUNY). Jobs Council activities are rooted in the belief that stronger employment outcomes are required to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth in New York City.
