The past decade has seen a remarkable surge in tech jobs in New York City, with Manhattan hosting the majority of them and Brooklyn becoming a viable alternative. This growth has been driven by major technology companies such as Twitter, Facebook and Amazon, as well as non-tech industries such as finance, advertising and media. These businesses have adapted to the digital age to remain competitive and have helped to revitalize the city's economy. New York City is the largest regional urban economy in the country and is a major workplace for banking, finance and communications.
It is also a major manufacturing center and shipping port, with a thriving technology sector. This includes computer products, mobile devices, video games, 3D printing and general software engineering tools. These jobs tend to pay well above the average state wage. The Small Business Internship Program (SBIP) is a project funded by the New York City Council that provides business students with training and applied business experience.
The program is managed by the Department of Economics and Business and trains cohorts in marketing (including social media), public procurement, Excel and PowerPoint. It also gives them the opportunity to work with small businesses chosen and supported by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Traincube is another program that provides unique training that connects local students, programmers and technology enthusiasts with businesses in the community. According to the New York State Retail Council, there are more than 941,000 workers in more than 77,000 New York retail businesses.
Amid the pandemic, tech jobs have also grown in other “non-tech” companies that employ technology workers such as software developers or computer programmers. Initiatives funded by the New York City Council at CUNY's technology incubator and innovation lab on the Concourse, Lehman College have provided business students with a platform to become successful entrepreneurs and business leaders. Bronx Business Tech Incubators is a unique workspace that provides extensive business support, counseling and services for entrepreneurs from underserved communities. NY Means Business offered training in fundamental digital skills and security, as well as consultation services, to New York City small business owners. Technology has taken hold in New York mainly because entrepreneurs, technologists and companies chose the city as the place to work and live. This has enabled them to take advantage of opportunities created by digital transformations of industries such as finance, advertising and media.
However, some planning efforts have been made in areas such as the Hub in the South Bronx but much greater investment is needed.
