Unlocking Career Advancement for Immigrant Workers Presenters Unlocking

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

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/

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

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

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

Source: U. S. Census Bureau

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

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 v Decline in federal funding v Limited but growing employer investment v Incentivizing greater employer investment

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

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

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

Training Delivery Models Corporate Trainer(s) Train-the-trainer sessions available Community College(s) 50+ Community Colleges & non profit orgs ready to deliver instruction Remote Instructors Partnering with thirdparty training platforms to offer instruction [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

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

Q&A

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