The employment numbers released today are yet another encouraging sign that our economy is growing stronger and that we are creating jobs at a record pace. It’s very encouraging that New York City’s unemployment rate – which has dropped to its lowest level in four years – is beginning to reflect our strong and sustained job growth. There are currently more private-sector jobs here than at any point in our history, and we are growing more robustly than the rest of the country. We know there is still more work to do, and we are committed to making sure that every New Yorker looking for a job has the chance to find one. However, today’s numbers are further proof that New York City has firmly established itself as a national leader in economic recovery, and our future remains bright.
Mayor Bloomberg’s Statement on NYC’s Continued Job Growth
New data shows that unemployment is at a four-year low, and the number of private-sector jobs is at an all-time high.
NYC GOV: Spurring Economic Growth in New Industries
Creating jobs is one of our most important challenges – and we’re working every day to find new ways to spur economic growth. Last week, we celebrated major progress in two critically important industries: tourism and our tech sector.
Let’s start with our tourism industry. Last year, New York City welcomed an all-time high of 52 million visitors, who had an all-time high $55.3 billion impact on our economy. And so far this year, virtually every measure, from hotel rooms sold to arrivals at the airports serving New York, tell us that we’re doing even better in 2013. That’s translating into more jobs for New Yorkers. Our leisure and hospitality sector already employs more than 363,000 people in our city – an all-time record – and last Wednesday, we christened a new cruise ship that’s going to help bring even more people to our city.
It’s the biggest cruise ship ever to make Manhattan its home port – Norwegian Cruise Line’s the Breakaway. Since 2009, the number of cruise ship passengers embarking here has grown by 32 percent. They totaled more than 587,000 passengers during 2012 alone. And the Breakaway’s weeklong cruises – the first one leaves tomorrow – will each accommodate some 4,000 passengers and help us build on our city’s record-breaking tourism gains.
Growth in our tourism sector is a big reason why we continue to outpace the nation in job growth. That’s true in our tech sector, too. New York has the most tech jobs of any city in the nation; they’ve grown here by some 30 percent since 2005. Our strategy to make our city the world’s digital capital is a big reason why. We’ve helped attract major tech companies, including Twitter, Facebook, Yelp and Google.
We’re also working to help tech start-ups get off the ground. Last week, I visited the headquarters of one of the newest: It’s called Urban Compass. Urban Compass will have on-line apartment listings – and they’ll enable prospective tenants to complete their rental applications on-line, too. They’ll also have neighborhood specialists who will help clients find the communities that are right for them.
The tech industry is one of the hottest areas of our city’s economy – in fact, the New York City metro area is number one in the country for job growth in the mobile app industry. We’re helping the tech sector to grow by developing a network of business incubators; and the Applied Sciences campuses we’re helping to build on Roosevelt Island, in Downtown Brooklyn and at Columbia University are going to fuel business creation and job growth for decades to come.
Our tourism and tech strategies are critical to diversifying our city’s economy and creating jobs for more New Yorkers of all backgrounds.
- Mayor Bloomberg in his weekly radio address for Sunday, May 12, 2013.
Source: nycgov
This Week at NYCEDC:
- We toasted Norwegian Breakaway’s christening in New York City
- We admired The Rockettes’ winning Project Runway costume design
- We prepped for the NYC Uncubed tech startup job fair—come and say hi!
- We celebrated the launch of the inaugural NYCxDesign week here in the city
- We sang along with the Rock of Ages cast on the Norwegian Breakaway
- We watched the demos of the NYC BigApps healthcare and education Hackathon at Huffington Post
- We applauded the expansion of Paperless Post in Lower Manhattan, creating new jobs
- We cheered on participants of the TD Five Boro Bike Tour
Have a great weekend, NYC!
Photo: Mayor Bloomberg and NYCEDC President Seth Pinsky at today’s announcement of the Federal approval of the City’s plan for $1.77 billion in Hurricane Sandy recovery initiatives. Credit: Kristen Artz
The Rockettes, Mayor Bloomberg, Buddy the Cake Boss, the Rock of Ages cast, artist Peter Max and more christen the Norwegian Breakaway ship in NYC today.
NYC GOV: Mayor Bloomberg's Update on NYC Public Safety Measures
Today Mayor Bloomberg updated New Yorkers on public safety measures the City is taking after Boston’s explosions.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with the people of Boston, with all those who were victims of the attack, and with their families. Mayor Bloomberg called Boston’s Mayor Menino to tell him that NYC would do anything possible to support Boston, now and in the days ahead. New Yorkers will never forget the support we received after 9/11 and we’ll never hesitate to repay that generosity when the need arises.
No foreign power, no domestic faction, and no terrorist group has ever stopped the march of freedom in America and none ever will.
Over the past 11 year, NYC has built the world’s largest, most sophisticated local counter-terrorism operation and the Boston bombing is a terrible reminder of why we’ve made investments in counter-terrorism infrastructure like camera technology.
Since yesterday afternoon, the NYPD has fully mobilized resources to protect New Yorkers from any related threats that might emerge. Mayor Bloomberg reminds New Yorkers to keep your eyes and ears open and if you see something, like an unattended package, report it to the police. Police Commissioner Kelly stated there are no specific threats against New York City.
We are flying flags at half-staff and also flying the Boston flag at City Hall. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends in Boston.
Watch Mayor Bloomberg’s full remarks at http://on.nyc.gov/17EluWZ
Source: nycgov
This Week at NYCEDC:
- We kicked off the season at Coney Island, which opened its doors last weekend
- We announced the new LINK Initiative to connect low-income New Yorkers with the employment opportunities they need to succeed in the knowledge-economy
- We challenged innovators to Change the Course of NYC’s waterfront and are gearing up to hear ideas they’ve come up with at the Symposium on April 10
- We took a look at commuter trends in New York City in this month’s Economic Snapshot
- We discussed entrepreneurship and startups with Martha Stewart on her radio show, Martha Live
- We introduced you to GrapeShot, one of the New-to-New York winners of the Take the H.E.L.M. Competition
- We took a look at how the NYC Venture Fellows Program grows startups into profitable businesses
- We introduced you to STELLAService, another Take the H.E.L.M. winner that helps consumers make more informed buying decisions
- We asked startups if they bike to work
- We geared up for this year’s Red Hook Crit, a bike race for all kinds of cycling-enthusiasts
Have a great weekend, NYC!
Photo Credit: Spencer T Tucker via nycmayorsoffice Flickr
Today Mayor Bloomberg is at the opening of the new NYC headquarters of Made in NY tech company On Deck Capital. This is the view from their office.
Source: nycgov
Breaks Ground on First 2 Residential Buildings at Hunter's Point South
Today was the groundbreaking on the first 2 residential buildings of the Hunter’s Point South development on the Queens waterfront. When complete the multiphase Hunter’s Point South project will be the largest new affordable housing complex to be built in New York City since the 1970s.
The first phase will include 925 permanently affordable apartments, about 17,000 square feet of new retail space, a 5 acre waterfront park and a new 1,100 seat school. The buildings will be ready for occupancy in 2014 with construction fully completed in 2015.
Mayor Bloomberg also announced the City will issue a Request for Proposals for Phase 2 of Hunter’s Point South development next month. Mayor Bloomberg’s New Housing Marketplace Plan includes plans to finance 165,000 units of affordable housing for half a million New Yorkers by the close of 2014 fiscal year. To date, more than 143,300 units of affordable housing have been created or preserved.
For more, visit nyc.gov.
Read more about Hunter’s Point South at http://www.nycedc.com/project/hunters-point-south
Source: nycgov
