New Yorkers looking for a job in city government now have a new place to start. NYC is officially opening the Jobs NYC Center at 2 Lafayette Street, a new hub designed to connect New Yorkers with public service jobs, career resources, civil service guidance, hiring events, and city agencies looking to recruit.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYC officials officially launched the Jobs NYC Center on September 28, 2026, turning a previously vacant city-owned space in Lower Manhattan into a career center where New Yorkers can get help navigating the city hiring process.
The Center was developed by the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). It will offer walk-in career services, workforce development workshops, job fairs, and agency hiring halls designed to connect job seekers directly with city employers.
Mamdani said the Center is intended to make it easier for New Yorkers to understand the city hiring process and find opportunities in public service. He stated:
Every New Yorker deserves a real shot at a good job, including serving the city they call home…The Jobs NYC Center will help New Yorkers find the right opportunity, understand what it takes to get hired, and build a career in public service.
What you can do at the new Jobs NYC Center
The new location isn’t just a place to browse job listings. New Yorkers will be able to get hands-on assistance with applications, learn about civil service exams, meet with hiring agencies, and attend career-focused workshops.
Here’s what the Center will offer:
- Career Services: Get help searching and applying for public-sector jobs, preparing applications, and navigating the civil service process, including exams
- Hiring Halls: Meet directly with NYC agencies through interviews, hiring events, and opportunities for on-the-spot recruitment
- Workshops & Training: Attend sessions covering public service careers and the civil service process, including Civil Service 101
- Employer Services: City agencies and other public-sector partners can use the Center to recruit and connect with potential employees
- Community & Events Space: The Center will host workforce development programs, networking opportunities, and community events. The space will also continue to incorporate arts programming and installations, including elements of the former Art on the Avenue activations
The Center is also intended to help current city employees looking to advance their careers, with workshops, training opportunities, career panels, networking events, and other resources.
NYC currently has more than 14,000 vacant authorized positions
The new Jobs NYC Center comes as the city has thousands of authorized positions that are currently unfilled.
According to the NYC Agency Staffing Dashboard, as of August 31, 2026, NYC had 292,808 actual employees compared with 307,199 authorized positions, resulting in 14,391 vacancies and a 4.68% vacancy rate.
The Jobs NYC initiative has been operating since 2024 and, according to the Mayor’s Office, has helped 47 city agencies and public institutions recruit staff, including the Department of Education, NYC Health + Hospitals, and CUNY.
When does the Jobs NYC Center open?
The Jobs NYC Center will officially begin regular walk-in hours on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 2 Lafayette Street in Lower Manhattan.
New Yorkers will be able to stop by Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm for help with applications, paperwork, and connecting with agencies that are hiring, without an appointment.
Watch the announcement from Mayor Zohran Mamdani below: