THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR INVITES JOB SEEKERS AND B...

Feedback Helps Shape Policy and Programming

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The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) today announced the launch of two statewide surveys designed to help understand the experiences and challenges job seekers and employers face across New York State. These surveys collect insight from thousands of job seekers and businesses from every region and industry statewide. The input helps the Department respond to the evolving needs of businesses, the workforce, and the New York State economy. NYSDOL will also be launching a new, interactive dashboard with the data as part of the Department's ongoing commitment to transparency.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "New York's economy is rapidly evolving, and the Department of Labor continues to take a strategic, data-driven approach to meet these changes head-on. We're asking job seekers and business owners to be our eyes and ears on the ground because your insights help shape how we respond. These surveys are a direct opportunity to inform the policies and programs that support New York's economy today and tomorrow."

The job seeker survey is for New Yorkers who are out of work, underemployed, or those considering new employment. The survey will also collect information from students to get a better understanding of their needs as they enter the workforce.

The business survey is being conducted in partnership with the New York State Business Council, State University of New York (SUNY), City University of New York (CUNY), Empire State Development (ESD),New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP), andNew York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC). NYSDOL will ask employers about what they are experiencing in the economy and their use of emerging technology, including artificial intelligence, to gain greater insight into their needs.

The Department will share the survey results with leaders in education, workforce development, business associations, training providers and much more.

Business Council of New York State President and CEO Heather C. Mulligan said, "By partnering with state entities to survey businesses across New York, we're gaining real-time insight into the evolving needs and challenges facing our workforce. This collaborative effort will ensure our strategies are informed by data directly from employers, enabling us to design targeted, effective solutions that strengthen our economy, support local businesses, and better prepare New Yorkers for the jobs of today and tomorrow."

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, "SUNY is an engine of economic development and upward mobility in New York State, and a key driver of New York State's workforce and economy. These two surveys advanced by the Department of Labor will help provide useful insights on the evolving workforce and business landscape. We thank Governor Hochul and Commissioner Reardon for undertaking this effort and working to ensure New York State is well-positioned for long-term economic growth and stability."

CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said, "The City University of New York is proud to serve as a partner to the 80,000 businesses that regularly recruit from our campuses and the more than 400,000 students who turn to us each year for the education they need to realize the future they want. These surveys provide invaluable insights to compliment what we hear each year from our partners and our students. We're delighted that Governor Hochul and Commissioner Reardon have made it a priority to collect this information and we look forward to reviewing the feedback to improve support for businesses and workers."

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "A skilled workforce is crucial to creating and sustaining new jobs in high-growth industries and, under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York continues to make strategic investments to grow the state's workforce development ecosystem. The feedback collected by the Department of Labor will complement and inform our efforts to support programs that will help to generate new opportunities in the state's 21st century economy."

New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals Interim Executive Director David Fischer said,"As New York's only statewide workforce industry association, NYATEP is always seeking to better understand the experiences and concerns of our state's workers and employers. NYSDOL's annual surveys of job seekers and businesses are an invaluable resource in our efforts to support the workforce sector across New York. We are excited to see these surveys go into the field once again this year, and eager to see what insights they yield."

Gregory J. Morris, CEO of New York City Employment and Training Coalition said, "Collaboration between business, education, and workforce partners is what drives real progress. These surveys are an important opportunity to capture the realities of New York's economy: what job seekers are experiencing, what businesses need, and how our training systems can better align the two. By grounding workforce and economic development in real data and lived experience, we can build strategies that not only close skills gaps but open pathways to good jobs in every region. NYCETC is proud to join this partnership and ensure that the path from learning to earning works for every community across the state."

The surveys close at Noon on Monday, December 1, 2025. (Note: survey end date may be extended based on need).