Unlocking Career Advancement for Immigrant Workers

Presenters Unlocking Career Advancement for Immigrant Workers Jennie Murray, Director of Integration Programs, National Immigration Forum Teresita Wisell, Vice President and Dean for Workforce Development and Community Education, Westchester Community College and Executive Director of CCCIE Dan Kosten, Policy and Advocacy Assistant Director for Skills and Workforce Development, National Immigration Forum

Introduction Immigrants 17% of the U.S. workforce Unlocking Career Advancement for Immigrant Workers Immigrants 17% of the U.S. workforce The only growth factor in the workforce English is one of the biggest barriers to career advancement

Source: Pew Research Center Stacked Chart Source: Pew Research Center http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/03/08/immigration-projected-to-drive-growth-in-u-s-working-age-population-through-at-least-2035/

Pie Chart

Content English language learning (ELL) is workforce development Unlocking Career Advancement for Immigrant Workers English language learning (ELL) is workforce development Different ELL models Increased public and private investment in ELL

English Learning is Workforce Development English learning not traditionally seen as workforce development Strengthens: digital literacy, computer skills, soft skills, continuing education, credentialing Promotes: Job retention and career advancement in the midst of both a skills and labor shortage

6.7 million

II. Innovative Models for English Language Learners Traditional model Digital model Blended model Contextualized model

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Pie Chart Source: U.S. Census Bureau

III. Employer’s Investment in English Language Learning Decline in federal funding Limited but growing employer investment Incentivizing greater employer investment Notes:

Source: National Skills Coalition Line Graph Source: National Skills Coalition https://nationalskillscoalition.org/resources/publications/file/We-Cant-Compete-if-We-Cut-1.pdf

III. Employer’s Investment in English Language Learning Decline in federal funding Limited but growing employer investment Incentivizing greater employer investment Notes:

Summary Immigrants are a growing and critical component of the U.S. workforce. Greater attention must be given to English language learning (ELL). Increase public and private investment in ELL. Notes:

Presenters Unlocking Career Advancement for Immigrant Workers Jennie Murray, Director of Integration Programs, National Immigration Forum Teresita Wisell, Vice President and Dean for Workforce Development and Community Education, Westchester Community College and Executive Director of CCCIE Dan Kosten, Policy and Advocacy Assistant Director for Skills and Workforce Development, National Immigration Forum

Percent of total participants Skills and Opportunity for the New American Workforce THE NEED THE SOLUTION Contextualized English Language training for the retail sector Original blended curriculum delivered 40% in person and 60% online Instruction provided by community college and organization partners at the worksite and on campus In partnership with: Miami Dade College and Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education OUR PARTICIPANTS 2 YEARS 1000 EMPLOYEES 3 PILOT CITIES 3 MAJOR RETAILERS Characteristic Percent of total participants Female 75% Cohorts with participants under 30 50% Native Spanish speakers 94% Education: high school diploma/GED or less 71% Never studied English before 32% 10 years or more in the US 52% 5 years or more employed with company 48% Same job since started with company 70%

Training Delivery Models Corporate Trainer(s) Community College(s) Remote Instructors 50+ Community Colleges & non profit orgs ready to deliver instruction Partnering with third-party training platforms to offer instruction Train-the-trainer sessions available [Models can be blended to meet operational needs]

Skills and Opportunity for the New American Workforce Year 2: Key Results New American Workforce is a project of the National Immigration Forum

Impact: Employers’ Perceptions Skills and Opportunity for the New American Workforce Impact: Employers’ Perceptions

Q & A

Summary Immigrants are a growing and critical component of the U.S. workforce. Greater attention must be given to English language learning (ELL). Increase public and private investment in ELL. Notes: