Category: job

In New York in 2025, the occupations experiencing the fastest wage growth were primarily concentrated in technology, healthcare, skilled trades, and professional services. Notable jobs with significant wage increases include:

• Computer and Information Research Scientists, with employment growth near 78%, earned a median annual salary around $197,390, reflecting strong demand in AI, data science, and cybersecurity fields.

• Forensic Science Technicians saw an 89.8% employment increase, with median wages near $78,170, driven by growth in crime laboratories and public safety roles.

• Biochemists and Biophysicists reported a 72.9% growth rate with salaries averaging $95,410, reflecting New York’s expanding biotech and pharmaceutical sectors.

• Skilled trades such as elevator mechanics and electricians experienced strong wage growth due to ongoing construction and infrastructure projects, with earnings often exceeding $90,000–$100,000 annually.

• Occupational health and safety technicians, medical appliance technicians, and rehabilitation counselors also demonstrated rapid wage growth, driven by heightened focus on workplace health and rehabilitation needs.​

Overall, New York’s fastest wage growth in 2025 occurred in STEM-related occupations, healthcare support roles, and skilled trades, fueled by technological innovation, public health priorities, and infrastructure investment.​

Yes, remote work significantly contributed to migration out of New York City and affected the labor supply in 2025. The shift to remote and hybrid work models enabled many workers, particularly in tech, media, and professional services, to relocate from Manhattan and other NYC boroughs to suburban or less densely populated areas with lower living costs and more space. This migration reduced the in-city labor pool, especially for roles that traditionally required physical presence.

Surveys show that the option to work remotely decreased the necessity for daily commuting, leading to a notable demographic shift as higher-income and white-collar workers moved to regions outside of Manhattan, impacting demand for housing, office space, and local services within the city. This reduction in the urban workforce supply created challenges for businesses dependent on in-person staff and contributed to staffing shortages in sectors unable to offer flexible work arrangements.

Additionally, while remote work supported worker flexibility and access to a broader talent pool, it also intensified competition for local jobs as employers increasingly hired from outside NYC, further reshaping the city’s labor market dynamics. This trend has long-term implications, affecting NYC’s economic recovery and urban planning strategies as authorities seek to balance workforce needs with changing residential and work patterns.​

Remote work has notably reshaped the employment landscape in New York City by driving a substantial shift in how and where people work. While it has offered flexibility and expanded talent pools, it has simultaneously led to migration out of the city, diminished office attendance, and reduced demand in sectors dependent on in-person presence. These changes have challenged traditional industries like commercial real estate, hospitality, and building services, leading to employment declines.

Hybrid work models further transformed workplace culture, establishing a new norm where employees balance remote and office days. This shift has created both opportunities and challenges for workforce development, economic recovery, and urban planning. Policy responses and investments in workforce training and economic development aim to balance the benefits of remote flexibility with the need to sustain vibrant local economies and equitable job growth.

As New York moves forward, the integration of remote work trends with strategic workforce initiatives and evolving urban infrastructures will be crucial to fostering a resilient, inclusive, and innovative labor market that meets the diverse needs of workers and businesses alike. The city’s adaptations reflect a dynamic interplay between technology, policy, and community priorities that will shape the nature of work and economic opportunity well beyond 2025.

Hybrid job growth significantly changed office attendance in Manhattan in 2025, leading to a notable shift in workplace patterns and diminishing foot traffic in traditional office settings. Pre-pandemic, office attendance in Manhattan was effectively 100%, but with the rise of hybrid work, average daily office attendance dropped to approximately 56%. This means that while employees typically come into the office three days per week, they work remotely the other two days, reflecting a hybrid model that balances in-person collaboration with the flexibility of telecommuting.​

This hybrid shift resulted in a 72% return-to-office rate compared to pre-Covid attendance levels, with many companies—especially in tech, media, and creative sectors—reporting less than 50% average office occupancy on any given day. The lower office presence has led to reduced demand for office space, changes in building service requirements, and shifts in supporting industries like food service and retail around office hubs.​

The increased adoption of hybrid schedules contributed to changes in commute patterns and influenced new policies from both public and private sectors, including government pilot programs permitting two remote workdays for city employees and incentives for coworking space usage outside of Manhattan.​

In summary, hybrid job growth transformed Manhattan’s office attendance by reducing average in-office presence well below pre-pandemic levels, reshaping the city’s workplace culture, and impacting related economic activities and infrastructure.​

The New York City industries that saw the biggest employment declines due to remote work trends in 2025 were primarily those reliant on in-person activities and office-based presence. Major sectors affected include:

• Commercial Real Estate and Building Services: With hybrid and remote models reducing daily office attendance to about 56%, demand for building maintenance, janitorial, security, and commercial leasing services declined significantly. Lower office occupancy translated to less need for these support roles in Manhattan and other business districts.​

• Hospitality and Food Services: Although experiencing some recovery post-pandemic, these sectors were still impacted by lower office worker presence, which reduced lunchtime and after-work patronage at restaurants, cafes, and bars in commercial hubs. This effect led to slower employment growth and in some cases jobs loss in dining and hospitality venues tied to office districts.​

• Retail in Commercial Areas: Retail stores and service providers located in office-heavy areas faced declines as reduced foot traffic from commuters and remote workers negatively affected sales and staffing needs.​

• Transportation and Commuter Services: Public transit, taxi services, and ride-hailing firms experienced lower ridership due to fewer commuters and business travelers, leading to workforce reductions or curtailed hiring.​

Industries such as technology, media, and some professional services adapted better to remote and hybrid work without significant employment losses, while sectors strongly tied to physical office presence and foot traffic suffered the greatest declines. Remote work’s cultural shift reshaped demand patterns and challenged NYC’s traditional employment ecosystem, particularly in downtown commercial corridors.​

East Brooklyn workforce initiatives in 2025 received a significant investment of $1.4 million through the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s East Brooklyn Workforce Development Fund. This funding was distributed among five nonprofit organizations committed to expanding workforce development programs that focus on connecting local residents to employment opportunities in both established industrial sectors and emerging fields such as construction and the green economy. The goal is to equip East Brooklyn residents with the necessary skills and certifications to access family-sustaining jobs in these growing industries.

The fund supports critical pre-development activities that enable nonprofits to incubate and deploy targeted workforce services responsive to local needs. The five key awardees include organizations focused on welding training, construction upskilling, entrepreneurship, real estate development, and renewable energy pre-apprenticeship programs. For instance, Brighter Opportunity through Trade expands welding certification programs, while IMPACCT Brooklyn works on entrepreneurship and housing stability.

These programs have strong support from city leaders who view them as vital for reversing historic unemployment trends and poverty in East Brooklyn. Council members emphasized how this investment strengthens local businesses and extends successful workforce initiatives to more residents. Additionally, the fund aligns with broader public investments like the $130 million public realm renewal at Broadway Junction and redevelopment projects within the East New York Industrial Business Zone, creating a more comprehensive ecosystem for job growth.

Overall, the $1.4 million award from the East Brooklyn Workforce Development Fund demonstrates New York City’s commitment to equitable and sustainable community growth. By empowering residents with relevant skills and supporting local economies, these initiatives foster long-term economic resilience and prosperity in East Brooklyn. This concerted effort ensures that workforce development is integrated with neighborhood revitalization and inclusive growth strategies, helping to build a dynamic place to live, work, and thrive in 2025 and beyond.

In 2025, several New York City neighborhoods received substantial workforce investment funding focused on job training, economic development, and community support:

• East Brooklyn neighborhoods surrounding Broadway Junction were significant recipients of investment with $1.4 million distributed through the NYC Economic Development Corporation’s East Brooklyn Workforce Development Fund. This funding supports local job training programs especially in construction, green economy, and industrial sectors aimed at equipping residents with skills for upcoming employment opportunities in the area.​

• Brooklyn’s 42nd Council District and East New York received focused investments supporting nonprofits that provide workforce development, housing advocacy, and entrepreneurship programs designed to empower local populations and prevent displacement.​

• Several workforce development grants totaling nearly $5 million were awarded statewide, including a $1 million pay-for-performance grant for St. Nicks Alliance in Brooklyn, which provides credentialed training in building trades like HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and environmental remediation for low-income residents.​

• Neighborhoods benefiting from broader funding and revitalization initiatives include downtown corridors supported by the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), which invests $100 million to stimulate economic growth and workforce development in upstate and NYC community cores.​

• Investments in affordable housing preservation and construction also indirectly support workforce stability in neighborhoods with large funding allocations, with $1.6 billion for affordable apartment projects across the city boosting employment in construction and related industries.​

These investments demonstrate a targeted approach prioritizing historically underserved and industrial neighborhoods, combining workforce programs with economic development to foster equitable growth in NYC neighborhoods in 2025.​

Small business and hospitality programs affected by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in 2025 include several impactful tax and financial provisions that benefit these sectors while introducing new compliance considerations:

• The hospitality industry (hotels, restaurants, resorts) benefits significantly from the permanent restoration of 100% bonus depreciation for qualified capital assets acquired after January 19, 2025. This allows immediate expensing of furniture, equipment, kitchen appliances, and building improvements, improving cash flow and tax savings for frequent reinvestment needs.​

• Small businesses, including many hospitality firms, gain from expanded Section 179 expensing limits, which increased to $2.5 million with a $4 million phase-out threshold. This benefit supports equipment purchases and upgrades with immediate deductions instead of long depreciation schedules.​

• The Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction of 20% for pass-through entities became permanent and enhanced under OBBBA. This applies to many small businesses in hospitality and service sectors, increasing after-tax income and supporting growth and hiring.​

• A temporary exclusion of up to $25,000 in taxable income on tips for employees (applicable 2025-2028) benefits tipped workers in restaurants and personal care services, increasing take-home pay and reducing tax burdens. Similarly, a deduction on overtime premiums provides further relief.​

• OBBBA also raised the IRS reporting threshold for Form 1099 from $600 to $2,000 starting in 2026, reducing administrative burdens for small hospitality businesses relying on contract and gig workers.​

• Some provisions increase compliance and audit risks, particularly for industries with seasonal or tipped employees, requiring hospitality business owners to maintain careful documentation to avoid issues.​

In summary, OBBBA delivers substantial tax relief, expanded deductions, and enhanced cash flow opportunities for small businesses and the hospitality sector in 2025, incentivizing capital investments and workforce stability while encouraging proactive financial planning to navigate new regulatory requirements.​

The 2025 New York State budget includes several programs that directly target job creation:

• The budget allocates $150 million in new capital grants and $75 million in new Excelsior tax credits to fund high-value regional projects through the Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs). These funds support job creation, retention, and business expansion across the state.​

• A $500 million capital investment supports the expansion of the NY CREATES Albany NanoTech Complex, aiming to create high-tech manufacturing jobs and stimulate economic growth in the tech sector.​

• The ON-RAMP initiative receives $200 million to establish workforce development centers focused on advanced manufacturing training in strategic locations, which emphasizes opportunities for disadvantaged populations and aims to create jobs in emerging industries.​

• The budget includes $100 million for the FAST NY program to develop shovel-ready sites, attracting large employers and high-tech manufacturers, which will generate employment opportunities.​

• Additional investments such as the Restore New York Communities Initiative ($50 million) and Downtown Revitalization and New York Forward programs ($100 million each) promote economic development and job creation in urban and rural communities statewide.​

• The Excelsior Jobs Program is expanded with enhanced refundable tax credits to incentivize job creation in targeted sectors, including semiconductor manufacturing, with credits covering wages, training, and support services.​

These budget programs collectively focus on capital investments, workforce development, tax incentives, and regional economic revitalization to drive job creation and economic growth in New York State throughout 2025.​

New York City implemented several policy responses in 2025 to offset the impacts of remote work on employment and office culture:

• The city expanded a remote work pilot program allowing eligible city employees to work remotely up to two days per week. This pilot aims to maintain flexibility for workers while ensuring essential services continue uninterrupted. The program was extended through May 2026 following positive feedback from employees and unions.​

• NYC introduced compressed workweek pilots, enabling employees who cannot work remotely to complete standard hours in four longer days with an extra day off. This initiative improves work-life balance without reducing service levels.​

• To support employee well-being amid evolving work models, the city integrated WorkWell NYC—offering programs focused on physical fitness, mental health, and health equity across agencies—helping maintain productivity and morale in hybrid settings.​

• The city also explored coworking passes for municipal workers living far from Manhattan headquarters, encouraging utilization of decentralized workspace options that reduce commute burdens and support workforce dispersal.​

• Broadly, many private sector companies in NYC adopted hybrid schedules, wellness initiatives, and “async Fridays” (no meetings) to enhance employee engagement and retention, reflecting a more worker-centric culture.​

These policy responses combine flexibility, health support, and innovation in work models, helping NYC balance operational needs with remote work realities and sustaining employment growth in a changed environment.​