Workforce boards can address unprecedented labor shortages by unlocking economic opportunity for immigrants and refugees
Katie Brown, PhD
Employers across the country are continuing to grapple with intense labor shortages. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are about 10 million job openings in the U.S., but just 6 million unemployed workers. Recent and historic immigration declines, it turns out, are partly to blame.
Fortunately, immigration and refugee policies are once again expanding. President Joe Biden has set a goal to resettle 125,000 refugees over the 2023 fiscal year, and the United States has now welcomed more than 76,000 Afghans and more than 100,000 Ukrainians. About 97 percent of U.S. net workforce growth by 2030 will be fueled by immigrants and their children, and over the next 15 years, immigrants and refugees are projected to add about 18 million working-age people to the workforce. However, the increase of immigrants and refugees coming to the United States will not solve the workforce shortage on its own. Nor will New Americans easily find the career opportunities they need to thrive in the United States.
Refugee resettlement organizations are singularly focused on placing newcomers into so-called “survival jobs,” which often offer low pay and little in the way of opportunity for advancement, especially for workers with language barriers. As the last mile of job creation, workforce boards have an important role to play in ensuring that these workers have access to jobs with family-sustaining wages. Workforce boards are the gateway to skills development for millions of workers, and it’s time for them to ensure that they are equipping New Americans with the resources they need to succeed.
Accessible, sector-specific English language training should be an essential component of this work, helping immigrant and refugee workers gain the language skills necessary to find work, demonstrate their talents, and succeed in their new roles.
The United States is seeing an influx of highly-educated immigrants and refugees, a fact reflected in recent proposed legislation that aims to reduce workforce barriers for immigrants who are trained health professionals. Immigrants and refugees are frequently forced to leave behind established careers in their home countries, and they often struggle to have their degrees and credentials recognized by the educational institutions, employers, and credentialing bodies of the places where they resettle. Refugees and immigrant workers face numerous systemic barriers when trying to reestablish their careers and find work in the United States, and chief among them are expectations from employers regarding their ability to speak English.
More than 20 million adults in the U.S. struggle to communicate in English, and, on arrival, many refugees lack the English skills to effectively communicate their skills, qualifications, and experience to potential employers. Worse yet, many companies remain hesitant to hire workers who do not speak English fluently. As a result, adults who are still learning English earn 40 percent less than their peers who speak the language proficiently. There are nearly 2 million college-educated immigrants and refugees living in the United States who are unemployed or underemployed.
Research has shown the many benefits of English language training for workers, with English proficiency being associated with career advancement, improved performance, and increased wages. It’s important, however, that these learning programs are rooted in research-backed practices that will ensure learners are gaining the language skills they need quickly and efficiently. Traditional programs relying on flashcards and memorization are not going to cut it. Instead, workers need personalized programs that place language learning within the specific context of the workplace. Research suggests that language instruction incorporating a specific context is far more effective than the generic, one-size-fits-all instruction that is regularly offered to far too many New Americans.
In recent years, major companies like Amazon, Chobani, Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe, Target, and Walmart have discovered just how crucial language training is to the success of their existing workers and to attracting and developing new talent. All now offer personalized language training integrated into workplace education programs. A recent survey of workers at several of these companies found that the programs are having an immense impact on their career opportunities and self-confidence. About 80 percent of workers participating in the training reported achieving their career goals, including earning pay raises and promotions. Nearly 60 percent reported improving their communication with colleagues.
Workforce boards can offer similar learning opportunities by integrating English language training directly into their career development programs. Rather than simply referring immigrants and refugees to outside agencies, such as local adult education centers, workforce boards should work to create programs that combine critical technical skills training for the in-demand jobs in their regions with foundational skills. That includes English language training. Such an approach is comparable to the Integrated Education and Training (IET) model already in use at a growing number of community colleges. These colleges offer adult education and literacy activities alongside workforce preparation and workforce training, all contextualized for a specific occupation.
By removing the language barrier, workforce boards can help immigrants and refugees more immediately access jobs that provide family-sustaining wages and clear pathways toward career advancement. They can provide these workers and the country they now call home with a stronger path toward economic security.
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