NEW YORK — Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday unveiled the expansion of New York State’s Highly Skilled Immigrant Career Pathways program to help new Americans find jobs that match their skills and experience.
As part of program expansion, a total of $4.38 million in publicly funded grants will be awarded to community providers to support job training and job placement efforts for more immigrants highly qualified in New York.
The grants will be awarded for three years and are administered by the New York State Office for New Americans.
The expansion of the Professional Pathways program builds on Governor Hochul’s commitment to strengthening the state’s Workforce Development Program for Immigrants, which was first highlighted in the state of 2022.
“For generations, the hard work and determination of immigrants who came to New York to build a better life for themselves and their families has shaped our state into what it is today,” said Governor Hochul. “By expanding the Professional Pathways for High-Skilled Immigrants program, we are strengthening our support for new Americans in our state and connecting immigrants with the tools they need to enter the workforce and pursue the dream of New York City. .”
First launched in 2021, the NYS Professional Pathways program helps highly skilled immigrants overcome barriers to career development by assessing, training and/or reaccrediting candidates and identifying job placement opportunities for low-income immigrants. income in high need areas statewide.
The program is specifically designed for fields that currently need highly skilled workers in New York State, including architecture, engineering, information technology, education, social work, economics, business administration and journalism.
As of January 31, 2023, according to leading career paths agency Upwardly Global, 282 job applicants have been accepted into the program and have received training and preparation for employment in the United States. Participants in this program must be authorized to work in the United States.
Under these new, expanded grants administered by the Office for New Americans (ONA), Upwardly Global will receive funding to continue to serve as the lead agency for Career Pathways, providing program leadership and technical assistance across the report to a network of ON ONE Job Coaches.
“In New York, we recognize the importance of immigrants and all they bring to our state and our country,” said New York State Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “Yet far too many new Americans face countless obstacles that make it difficult to build a better life for themselves and their families. Thanks to the expansion of the Office for New Americans’ Professional Pathways program , we empower and encourage New York immigrants and provide the skills and resources they need to succeed and thrive in today’s job market.
For any immigrant who needs help or to connect to ONA programs, call the New Americans Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.