Workforce Forward Strike Team
The Workforce Forward Strike Team was launched to help get New Yorkers back to work by connecting unemployed New Yorkers seeking part-time work with small businesses that are looking for part-time workers. The Strike Team is made up of experts from the NYS Department of Labor, the Governor's Workforce Development Office and the Empire State Development Corporation.
The Strike Team works with businesses to develop strategies to utilize part-time workers in their recovery plans. It also promotes the use of NYS DOL's Shared Work Program, which enables employers to avoid layoffs by allowing workers to receive partial unemployment insurance benefits while working reduced hours.
Find part-time work
Are you interested in part-time work? You can connect to a job board with nearly 20,000 part-time jobs available today across the state. Browse by location, company, job title and keyword. Businesses can also use the site to post job openings.
Benefits of part-time work
Part-time work plays a critical role in helping the State's economy recover. It can offer businesses the flexibility they may need to build back from the pandemic. It also provides opportunities to job seekers. Part-time work can help you to:
- Return to a previous career that may not have full-time positions available.
- Try a new career or different position.
- Build self-esteem.
- Work and learn new skills at the same time.
- Get a foot in the door for potential full-time jobs in the future.
- Build a new community for support and potential future job networking.
Shared Work - the layoff alternative
The Shared Work program allows employers to keep trained employees and avoid layoffs by allowing staff members to receive partial Unemployment Insurance benefits while working reduced hours. The Shared Work Program helps keep trained, productive employees on the job during temporary business downturns, meaning New York businesses can gear up quickly when conditions improve, and New York workers get to stay on the job. Full-time, part-time and seasonal employees are eligible.
Unemployment insurance & part-time work
If you work part time, you may still be eligible for a partial unemployment insurance benefit. NYS DOL’s new partial unemployment system uses an “hours-based” approach. Under the new rules, you can work up to 7 days per week without losing full unemployment benefits for that week, if you work 30 hours or fewer and earn $504 or less in gross pay excluding earnings from self-employment. With this change, your benefits will not be reduced for each day you engage in part-time work. Instead, benefits will be reduced in increments based on your total hours of work for the week.
More resources for job seekers
NYS DOL has many resources to help you find a job, research careers and learn about special programs.
You may also want to visit SUNY For All. This online training center gives New Yorkers a gateway to college—no matter where they live across the state—with high school equivalency, college prep, and employment certification programs. SUNY For All can help you build your skills to match the needs of a changing workforce and economy.