Building careers without barriers: How JPMorganChase is rewriting the rules on economic opportunity in NYC

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On a Friday afternoon in New York City, 80 students from the City University of New York (CUNY) system filed into JPMorganChase's offices at 383 Madison Avenue. For many, it was their first time in a corporate environment. As they rode the elevators and took in sweeping views of the city, the students were seeing their hometown—and their futures—from an entirely new vantage point.

This kind of moment is exactly what the New York Jobs CEO Council, an employer-led intermediary was designed to create. And it’s an example of a kind of program that’s urgently needed in New York City. By 2032, 78% of the fastest-growing jobs in the city—in fields like healthcare, technology, and transportation—will require training beyond high school.

While the Jobs Council often targets students in college, another innovative organization, Brooklyn Workforce Innovations (BWI), helps New Yorkers with training, credentialing, and employment in key sectors of New York City‘s economy.

With support from JPMorganChase, both organizations provide crucial paths to upward mobility. Part of Greater New York City’s business community for over 225 years, the firm is one of its largest private-sector employers, with more than 24,000 employees. Between 2019 and 2023 alone, we helped to place over 82,000 New Yorkers into jobs and apprenticeships.

Rafia Zahir-Uddin, a global philanthropy program officer at JPMorganChase, emphasizes the firm’s dedication to creating opportunities for New Yorkers citywide. “In New York City, and in all the places where we operate, we believe a strong job market is the foundation of a strong economy,” she says. “That’s why we support career connected education, skills training, and policies that help advance career pathways for JPMorganChase employees in the broader communities we serve.”

Breaking down invisible walls

Both the Jobs Council and BWI exemplify a profound shift in how major employers think about workforce development: In addition to supporting nonprofits with philanthropic contributions, JPMorganChase is collaborating with the city's education and training systems—and, in the process, fundamentally changing hiring practices. "From a workforce perspective, we are entering a transformative moment," says Kiersten Barnet, Executive Director of the Jobs Council.

The Council brings together CEOs from major companies, educational institutions, and community organizations in New York City to address workforce development and create economic opportunities for residents.

"You can't fix problems you don't admit to—and education is a big one because it's the path to opportunity," says Jamie Dimon, JPMorganChase's Chairman and CEO and founding chair of the Jobs Council. “As companies with a long-standing commitment to the New York area and its residents, we are using our collective power to prepare the city's workforce with the skills of the future and helping New Yorkers who have been left behind get a foot in the door.”

The Jobs Council: Opening pathways to professional and economic advancement

Some 275,000 students attend CUNY schools, making it the nation's largest urban public university system. Many students work full-time while attending school, and nearly 40% of CUNY undergraduates come from households earning less than $20,000 annually.

The Jobs Council’s initiatives help place CUNY students into jobs spanning technology, finance, and business operations. It tracks all hires rigorously, ensuring roles pay at least a living-wage.

Member companies view these positions as starting points for career growth, with clear advancement pathways. In healthcare roles, for instance, employees can enter as radiology aides, advance to radiology technicians, and continue climbing with scheduled wage increases and employer-sponsored training.

The Jobs Council brings employer expertise directly to the CUNY campus. The Council's strength lies in its direct connection to employer needs—when the market shifts, The Council can help education partners adapt. Students who participate in Jobs Council engagements are 33% more likely to be employed.

Through the Jobs Council’s work, 52,000 low-income New Yorkers have been hired at member companies—including nearly 10,000 CUNY graduates. By 2030, the organization is aiming for 100,000 hires in total.

A new talent pipeline

A 23-year-old from the Bronx, MD Miah was working at a public library when he heard about a Jobs Council partner organization called Year Up. "It seemed too good to be true," he recalls. "A guaranteed internship, college-level courses, and it was free? I took the chance—and here I am."

Miah is the first in his family to attend college, paving the way for his younger brother to do the same. Through the Jobs Council, he has learned more than technical skills. He credits the program with teaching him professional etiquette, how to craft an elevator pitch, and how to navigate corporate environments—knowledge that helped him land an internship at JPMorganChase, and eventually a full-time role as a financial analyst. Today, he's pursuing a master's degree in business analytics at Baruch College while working on the firm's card installments team.

Tailored jobs training for long-term success: Brooklyn Workforce Innovations

While the Jobs Council works at the systems level, BWI tackles the challenge from the ground up. Located in Brooklyn with several training sites, including the Brooklyn Navy Yard, BWI has been providing sector-focused training that responds directly to employer needs for 25 years.

The organization serves about 900 New Yorkers annually across seven training programs, from tech and commercial transportation to woodworking and film production. The organization’s outcomes are remarkable: 76% of graduates secure full-time employment paying an average of over $43,000 annually, often with benefits.

JPMorganChase has deployed approximately $2.3 million in philanthropic capital to BWI, supporting programs that provide crucial skills for key sectors. For instance, BWI's KindWork Customer Experience Fellowship, a four-week program, provides training for customer-focused roles in tech—jobs that don't require advanced STEM skills but provide genuine pathways into one of the city’s fastest-growing sectors.

"Our emphasis on sector-focused training allows us to really home in on those things that people will need to do that job and to grow in that career," explains Aaron Shiffman, BWI's Executive Director. “But just as importantly, we help people build the professional skills, confidence, and connections that open doors to careers that may have previously felt out of reach.”

BWI alum Jose Cervantes Escamilla had to drop out of college when the financial pressures of the pandemic became too great. Through the KindWork program—championed by JPMorganChase—he has found that it’s possible to build a career in tech without a four-year degree.

Through her role at JPMorganChase, Zahir-Uddin has worked closely with BWI and knows the impact of the organization’s model. “BWI has an exceptional track record in getting New Yorkers placed into well-paying jobs and setting them up for long-term success and career growth,” she observes. “Their sector-specific training allows them to meet people where they are—serving individuals with varying levels of education, skills, and interests.”

Measuring what matters

Both BWI and the Jobs Council ensure their programs lead to genuine economic mobility, not just entry-level positions.

One Jobs Council alumna bought her family a home in Atlanta after being hired and promoted by Mastercard. “To me, that’s an incredible example of the power of a well-paying job and quite literally uplifting your entire family," says Barnet.

Miah says that his experiences have helped to equip him with skills he is using to launch his career. But they have also taught him something about the power of corporate responsibility. "JPMorganChase really gives back to the community," he says.

JPMorganChase recognizes that talent is everywhere—and that opportunity needs to be, too.

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