Jobs First NYC's Kerry Faye Ibar urges paid AI fluency pathways
Kerry Faye Ibar of Jobs First NYC warns that AI is changing entry-level work and that 110,000 young adults are out of school and work, with 177,000 underemployed. She recommends the city invest in sector-based AI fluency, paid pathways, internships, and apprenticeships.
Good evening, Speaker Menon, Chair Persson de la Rosa, and members of the Council.
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My name is Carrie Fallhaber.
I'm the Senior Vice President at Jobs First NYC.
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Thank you for the invitation to testify today.
Jobs First NYC works with more than 200 partners to strengthen workforce systems and expand economic opportunity.
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And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
AI is reshaping jobs, skills, and how employers find and deploy talent in ways that are difficult to quantify.
And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
The impact of a tribe
Trial and error approach to safety is a risk that AI companies should bear, not New York City's young adults.
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And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
Our immediate concern is what happens when the first rung of the career ladder changes faster than our workforce system is unable to respond.
And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
That matters especially for the more than 110,000 young adults who are out of school and out of work, and more than 177,000 who are underemployed, more than 35% of all 16 to 24-year-olds.
And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
As entry-level work changes, they could face even greater barriers to getting their foothold in the workforce.
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Workforce preparedness is an AI safeguard.
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AI readiness should be part of New York City's workforce infrastructure, from education and training through hiring and advancement.
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For more than a decade, JobSource MIC has worked to understand how technology is changing access to work.
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Today, we are developing decision-making tools to reduce AI risk, scale what works, and shrink the distance between education, training, and getting a job.
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And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
We recommend that the city invest in sector-based AI fluency paid pathways into work.
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AI is changing each sector differently.
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Employers, education, and workforce partners should define sector skills with city investment in internships, apprenticeships, and a civic core where young people build those skills through work.
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And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
Every young person deserves a first chance at a good job.
As AI changes work, New York City has to make sure that first chance is still there.
And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
Thank you.
And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.
Thank you so much.
And you actually heard the deputy commissioner say that, that they can't find somebody inside of New York City to say that.