New York City Remains Largest Employer in the State

News Summary

New York City’s educational workforce continues to grow, with the New York City Department of Education employing over 143,000 workers in 2024. The city’s diverse employment sectors include healthcare, government, and transportation, integrating a strong job market that reflects the ongoing demand for education and public service. Key employers like Northwell Health and the City of New York also contribute to this expanding landscape as the city evolves.

New York City remains home to the largest employer in the state, the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), which employs a total of 143,663 workers in 2024. This figure marks a 1% increase from the previous year, underscoring the steady expansion of the city’s educational workforce.

Under the leadership of Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, the NYCDOE is responsible for managing the country’s largest school system, providing education to approximately 1 million students spread across about 1,800 schools. As the dominant educational institution in New York, the NYCDOE plays a critical role in shaping the future of the city’s youth.

Following the NYCDOE, the City of New York is the second-largest employer with a workforce of 107,791 employees, reflecting a 7% growth year-over-year. This number does not include employees from the Department of Education, NYC Health + Hospitals, the city’s police and fire departments, or the City University of New York, highlighting the city’s extensive employment framework.

In third place is Northwell Health, employing 88,463 workers, which represents a 4% increase from the previous year. This growth reflects the ongoing demands of healthcare in the region, which is critical in serving the diverse needs of the community.

Fourth on the list is the United States government, employing 84,718 individuals in the New York area. However, this number has remained relatively static. Anticipated cuts from the Trump administration in early 2025 might impact this figure, indicating a potential decrease in government employment moving forward.

Finally, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) rounds out the top five employers with 70,000 employees. As a vital component of New York’s infrastructure, the MTA provides critical transportation services essential to millions of inhabitants and visitors.

Other sectors represented among the larger employers in the New York area include health care, higher education, banking, and law, showcasing the diverse economic landscape of the region. This list encompasses not just New York City but also the surrounding counties: Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester in New York, as well as Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union in New Jersey.

As of 2024, the NYCDOE continues to dominate the employment landscape in New York City, underscoring the importance of education and public service in one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. The stable growth of these key employers indicates a continuing demand for educational, health care, and government services as the city develops and evolves over time.

In conclusion, the employment figures for 2024 paint a picture of a robust job market led by education, health care, and municipal services, reflecting the critical roles these sectors play in ensuring the welfare and development of the city and its residents.

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Additional Resources

• Crain’s New York: New York Area’s Largest Employers
• Wikipedia: New York City Department of Education
• Crain’s New York: How New York City Schools Work
• Google Search: Northwell Health
• Crain’s New York: Growth in New York Health Care Sector
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Metropolitan Transportation Authority