Investors poured a record $16.7 billion into the city’s AI startups in 2025, and AI companies signed 2.2 million square feet of Manhattan office space in just six months.
But a new report from the Partnership for New York City finds that in the fields most exposed to AI, like finance, media, and business operations, entry-level job openings have dropped by as much as 41% since 2022. At the same time, employers are expecting prospective hires to have AI skills that most schools aren’t teaching yet. For many, the jobs that would be their first step into a white-collar career are now harder to find and harder to qualify for.
The report emphasizes that while New York has an opportunity to lead in this next era of innovation, the city’s success cannot be measured by investment alone. We need to ensure that there is still a place for young talent in our economy.
The good news is that New York City can get ahead of these changes while still capturing the benefits of AI investment. The Partnership calls on the city to track how AI is actually changing jobs, create new ways for New Yorkers to get hands-on AI experience, and build AI skills into everyday places like schools, libraries, and city services.
AI companies have made it clear: they want to call New York City their home. Now we have to make sure the people who power our communities win too: record investment, matched with real opportunity for the next generation of New Yorkers.
