Tech:NYC Digest: May 11

Tech:NYC Digest: May 11

May 11, 2021 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

Tuesday, May 11, 2021As the vaccination rollout progresses and NYC moves forward with reopening plans, this digest focuses on the resources that help you make decisions about your businesses and your lives as New Yorkers.Was this digest forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

The latest: FDA approves Pfizer vaccine for 12-15 age group, vaccinations for them in NY could start later this week; Blackstone wants fully vaccinated employees back in offices July 7; Tech:NYC and Accenture released new research today, finding New York tech jobs are set to grow in 2021; listen to the latest episode of Talk:NYC with Gothamist & WNYC reporter Liz Kim on the state of the mayoral race.By the Numbers:

  • New York State: 2,059,419 (+1,516) 

  • New York City: 924,306 (+557) 

  • Statewide Fatalities: 42,341 (+32)

  • NYC Positivity Rates: 

    • NYS reports: 1.2 percent (no change)

    • NYC reports: 2.0 percent (no change)

  • Vaccine Progress:

    • NYS first doses administered: 9,698,337 (+36,393)

    • NYC first doses administered: 3,814,850 (+17,466)

General Updates:

  • There’s been a lot of eyes on New York’s positivity rate, but it seems to be going in an encouraging direction: the state is still processing a consistently high number of COVID-19 tests — almost 100,000 test results were reported in the last 24 hours — and the positivity rate was down to 1.5 percent. (Democrat & Chronicle)

    • For context, that’s less than half the current national average.

  • Meanwhile, the FDA has authorized the use of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 12 to 15 years old. (New York Times)

    • The FDA authorization isn’t the final word, though. An advisory committee of the CDC will meet to determine recommendations on its use for that age group, and with its endorsement, vaccinations could start immediately.

    • There’s confidence the approval will come quickly, and Gov. Cuomo signaled today that vaccinations for that age group could begin as early as Thursday. (NBC New York)

  • Novavax’s combined flu and COVID-19 vaccine has promising results in a new study. Seasonal combination vaccines are expected to be a key tool in fighting emerging variants of the virus. The company anticipates the start of clinical trials by the end of the year. (Reuters)

  • Pres. Biden has partnered with Uber and Lyft to give people free rides to vaccination sites through July 4th. The program launches in the next two weeks as part of the administration’s push to get 70 percent of American adults at least partially vaccinated by the Fourth of July. (Axios)

One good listen: our latest episode of Talk:NYC is out! Julie spoke with Gothamist & WNYC reporter Liz Kim about the mayoral primary election (which is on June 22nd). Liz fills us in on everything happening on the campaign trail, including the issues and drama shaping the race. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

The latest results: In March, roughly 17 percent of Manhattan’s office space was vacant or about to be. As vaccines have since become widely available, many financial firms have set clear timelines for when they’re returning this summer. However, many workers want to stay remote or have flexibility. When your office reopens, how do you expect to structure your work week?       

Today's poll

: Tech:NYC and Accenture

today (more below!) on how New York-based companies are growing their workforce, and tech jobs will be key to the city’s economic recovery. How confident are you that NYC will be able to return to pre-pandemic economic levels?

  • *|SURVEY: Very confident|*

  • *|SURVEY: Somewhat confident|*

  • *|SURVEY: Somewhat unconfident|*

  • *|SURVEY: Very unconfident|*

  • *|SURVEY: I'm not sure|*

New research released today by Tech:NYC and Accenture found that New York companies are hungry for tech employees. (Crain’s New York) We surveyed 300 C-suite executives in the city, and here’s what they said:

  • Tech jobs are set to grow: A majority of the respondents will increase the number of tech hires this year over last by as much as 20 percent. Overall, 62 percent of New York companies plan to hire new talent to address increasing tech needs.

    • According to another recent report from the Center for an Urban Future (CUF), tech job openings outpaced all other sectors during the pandemic, including healthcare and finance. (Wall Street Journal)

  • The growth benefits New Yorkers: While it’s true New York is facing more competition than ever to retain tech talent, about 80 percent of the employers surveyed said they expect to find the talent they need here in the city.

    • Miami, Houston, Philadelphia are among the handful of cities where small tech hubs sprouted in the last year of remote work. (Axios) Meanwhile, tech has surpassed finance to be the leading sector in Manhattan office leases, largely due to tech giants like Google, which committed $7 billion to its 2021 NYC real estate development. (Commercial Observer)

  • Demand for certain skills is really hot: Of the respondents, 70 percent plan to fill cybersecurity positions, and 65 percent plan to hire artificial intelligence professionals. Cloud computing, blockchain engineering, and quantum computing are also very in-demand skill sets. 

    • Our own Julie Samuels weighed in: "For skills like AI and cybersecurity, these companies by and large are confident they can accomplish their hiring here. That really shows a sense of optimism about the New York market." 

  • But we need support to make it last: More than a quarter of the companies expect finding candidates in New York for cybersecurity and AI jobs will be difficult. 

    • CUF says to ensure New Yorkers can fill these jobs, a bold, long-term initiative to expand and improve the tech skills-building ecosystem, backed up by a significant public investment, is needed. (Gotham Gazette)

  • Read the full Tech:NYC and Accenture report here.

Related reading:

  • One misleading CDC number: the outdoor transmission rate is even better than the agency has said (New York Times)

  • Got the vaccine? Experts say you can relax about your COVID-19 risk now. Really. (Vox)

  • It's OK to Shower Once a Week, and Other Pandemic Hygiene Habits That Are Fine, Actually (Lifehacker)

Working:

  • Blackstone is asking its vaccinated employees to return to the office full-time on June 7th. The company has spent $20 million on COVID-19 safety measures and specific precautions, including covering cab fares for employees to commute. (Insider)

  • A new study by the hiring site Indeed found the eight largest US tech hubs mostly held onto tech jobs during the pandemic. The data show tech hubs tend to have greater overall job loss and are having a harder time recovering job openings, but that service sector jobs are driving that trend as tech workers retained their jobs remotely. The takeaway: even as tech hubs lose residents, they are not losing tech jobs. (Hiring Lab)

Related reading:

  • Union Square Ventures’ partner Fred Wilson: In-Person vs On-Screen (AVC)

  • The upside of teasing, gossip, and eavesdropping at the office (Quartz)

  • The Oldest Productivity Trick Around (New York Times)

Request: please let us know as your return-to-office policies are developed and what considerations your companies are taking for developing them. Sharing this information is helpful to companies and employees across the NYC ecosystem and can be kept anonymous.

Recruit: A tech talent and job opportunities board from Tech:NYC and AlleyCorp compiles NYC tech workers looking for new roles and NYC-based tech companies hiring open positions. To contribute to the board, click here.Events:

  • May 13: Virtual: Can NFTs Fund the Future for Artists?, with multidisciplinary artists Israel Wilson and Aaron Lazansky-Olivas aka SpazeCraft. Hosted by NYC Media Lab. (Details)

  • May 14: Virtual: The Future of Hybrid Work, with Leading at a Distance co-authors and leadership experts Jim Citrin and Darleen DeRosa. Hosted by Axios. (Details)

  • May 18: Virtual: Digital New York Summit, with Tech:NYC founder and executive director Julie Samuels, Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Internet and Technology Committee Chair Assembly Member Clyde Vanel, and more. Hosted by City & State. (Details)

  • May 19: Virtual: Women Who Invest Forum, with Operator Collective partner Leyla Seka, Chingona Ventures founding partner Samara Mejia Hernandez, 1863 Ventures managing partner Melissa L. Bradley, and more. Hosted by Silicon Valley Forum and Betaworks Studios. (Details)

Check these sources for verified information from government agencies and public health authorities:

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