Kelly Acheson, Communications Specialist, WES

According to the American Immigration Council, one in seven residents in the United States is an immigrant. That ratio is expected to grow—by the year 2060, one in six U.S. residents will be an immigrant, per U.S. Census Bureau projections. Ensuring that immigrants and refugees have equitable opportunities for career advancement is crucial to the U.S. economy and will fuel long-term growth and innovation, foster strong local communities, and empower individuals. As Mission Asset Fund observed during World Education Services’ recent #ImmigrantsThrive Twitter chat, “when immigrants thrive, we all thrive.”

This sentiment was echoed throughout the Twitter chat during which immigrant and refugee advocates, thought leaders, and stakeholders discussed practices and policies that support the workforce inclusion and economic mobility of immigrants and refugees.

Below are five takeaways from the February 9, 2022, Twitter chat:

1. Networks, partnerships, and collective action are crucial to advancing immigrant and refugee inclusion.

Networks bring advocates together, effectively pooling resources in support of a common cause. At the national and local levels, networks connect diverse partners, reduce silos, and encourage the sharing of practices and resources. Peer-led networks, run by organizations that have the same goal, can be effective in collecting and mobilizing the financial resources and industrial know-how needed to successfully advance immigrant and refugee inclusion efforts and policies.

A7: For sectors that rely on immigrants for their workforce, peer-led employer networks, local (see Baltimore ex. in earlier tweet) & national, are a powerful way to advance practices that meet immigrant worker & business needs. #ImmigrantsThrive #wkdev https://t.co/ELdZzrHNXX

— National Fund for Workforce Solutions (@National_Fund) February 9, 2022

A5: The creation of local connector networks is a powerful tool. You can see what this looks like on the ground by checking out the work of #WelcomingNetwork member @STLMosaic. #ImmigrantsThrive👇https://t.co/RSVxC97aYR

— Welcoming America (@WelcomingUSA) February 9, 2022

Partnerships between employers and community-based organizations are equally important as they link immigrants and refugees with human services, education, and skill-building opportunities. Partnerships between and among employers and direct service providers, non-profits, and foundations help develop untapped potential in immigrant and refugee communities. For example, Upwardly Global highlighted that it partnered with New York-Presbyterian Hospital to create a paid, mid-career internship opportunity for immigrants and refugees who have backgrounds in health care, technology, and administration.

A3: Employers & direct-service organizations are creating innovative hiring pipelines. These partnerships bolster immigrant & refugee access to careers in high-demand fields like health care, while helping employers fill critical workforce gaps. 1/3 https://t.co/zh2eSlWN74

— WES Global Talent Bridge (@WESGlobalTalent) February 9, 2022

As promising as these existing partnership and network models are, many Twitter chat participants noted the need for collective action at the national level. World Education Inc., a non-profit dedicated to improving people’s lives around the world through education and social and economic development, indicated that the U.S. would benefit from the creation of a National Office of New Americans. While a number of Offices of New Americans (ONAs) already exist at the state and local level, a national ONA would be able to coordinate inclusion policies and establish a cohesive federal strategy.

A2: Develop a National Office of New Americans, or expand the state ONA network to support inclusion policies at all levels. It’s time for a federal strategy and investment of resources into engaging New Americans as students, workers, & community members. #ImmigrantsThrive https://t.co/nqRQUyNPo1 pic.twitter.com/M7FkaBJSq9

— World Ed – USA (@WorldEdUS) February 9, 2022

2. Focus resettlement and humanitarian assistance efforts on supporting the long-term economic mobility of refugees.

Jacki Esposito, U.S. policy and advocacy director at WES, underscored the need for the federal government to ensure a greater focus on career mobility in refugee resettlement and humanitarian assistance. Most participants agreed that the U.S. needs to do more than simply meet refugees’ basic survival needs—the government must also promote the long-term economic stability of refugee workers by matching them with well-paying jobs that are commensurate with their skills and experience.

A6: The US should take greater steps to ensure #refugees can navigate rejoining their careers once resettled in the US. #ImmigrantsThrive #UntappedTalent https://t.co/O26IAqHQY5

— Jacki Esposito (@JackiEsposito) February 9, 2022

To achieve this goal, Twitter chat participants proposed strengthening the “welcoming infrastructure” of the U.S. by expanding job placement and inclusion programs; providing more education, coaching, and training opportunities; increasing investment in English language learning; and streamlining licensing and credentialing requirements. Fortifying the country’s welcoming infrastructure would also require a commitment to supporting refugees prior to their arrival and resettlement. For this reason, the U.S. needs to expand pre-arrival supports by, for example, launching pre-arrival career pathway programs.

A6: Instead of focusing on immediate employment, focus on English and skill development within the first three years of arrival. #ImmmigrantsThrive

— JFCS Louisville (@JFCSLouisville) February 9, 2022

A6: We need to shift the conversation from just the acquisition of housing for new Afghan arrivals to finding careers that allow refugees and their families to thrive. Read more here: https://t.co/8dbOv5eEBj #ImmigrantsThrive

— Upwardly Global (@UpwardlyGlobal) February 9, 2022

Policy reform is also necessary to ensure that refugees can equitably seize opportunities to work. Twitter chat participants mentioned policies ranging from increased government investment in inclusion programs and refugee legal services to expanded direct public assistance to refugees. The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration noted that in order to encourage refugees to pursue higher education, the U.S. needs to offer them a path to citizenship. Refugees who come to study on F-1 visas are currently unable to stay on as permanent residents.

A6. The existing policies don’t fully support refugees looking for educational opportunities. There is not a pathway to citizenship for refugees who come to study on F1 visas; they aren’t able to use their skills and talents to contribute to our communities. #ImmigrantThrive 2/5 https://t.co/bxcpsrq9Q2

— Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Ed & Immigration (@PresImmAlliance) February 9, 2022

Finally, at the infrastructure level, the U.S. adult education system needs increased funding. Refugees can obtain higher paying jobs through improved access to continuing education programs; however, Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) CEO Sharon Bonney observed that without proper funding, the adult education system cannot fully support the adult learners who benefit most, including immigrants and refugees.

We need to build the capacity of the #adultedu system. Programs are expecting a significant surge, following the precedents set during economic downturns. Remove the funding barriers so we can serve more adult learners. #immigrantsthrive @COABEHQ

— COABE CEO (@CeoCoabe) February 9, 2022

3. Employers must support refugee and immigrant inclusion in the workforce; they must also educate non-immigrant employees about the value of a workforce that is diverse and inclusive.

Employers must champion the multicultural and multilingual assets that refugees and immigrants bring to their workforce not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because there is a strong business case to be made for fostering diversity and inclusion. According to a 2020 McKinsey & Company report, “companies whose leaders welcome diverse talents and include multiple perspectives are likely to emerge from the [COVID-19] crisis stronger.” Companies that value diversity and inclusion tend to be more resilient, flexible, and agile.

A3: Employers can launch programs to help #immigrant & #refugee employees navigate the workplace and help non-immigrant employees understand the benefits of a diverse workforce #ImmigrantsThrive https://t.co/CnSiKP9Qes

— CCCIE (@CCCIE) February 9, 2022

A5. Use hiring practices that prioritize & value diversity and inclusion; invest in multicultural competence at the workplace; reduce implicit and explicit biases in hiring & promotion; use metrics to ensure inclusion of candidates of color, including immigrants #ImmigrantsThrive

— Workforce Matters (@WFMFunders) February 9, 2022

4. Developing career and licensing pathways tailored to immigrant and refugee needs can help source talent pipelines and address labor shortages in key industries.

We must ensure equitable access to career pathways and entrepreneurship opportunities for immigrants and refugees. Free pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, such as IRC’s Industrial Sewing Pre-Apprenticeship Program, provide training and create unique employment opportunities for immigrant and refugee women.

WES’ Monica Munn, managing director for social impact, cited two other sector-specific examples: the National Fund for Workforce Solutions’ Healthcare Immigrant Workforce Project, which will use peer learning to develop the individual competencies of frontline health care workers and create career opportunities for immigrants and refugees; and the Center for Land-Based Learning’s apprenticeship and management training programs, which provide career pathways for incumbent workers in agriculture and farming. Both the National Fund for Workforce Solutions and the Center for Land-Based Learning are grantee partners of the WES Mariam Assefa Fund; their grants are part of the Fund’s goal of driving more inclusive employer practices.

A4: Sector and occupation-specific strategies are essential to meet the unique needs of different workers and changing labor market conditions! Let’s look at two examples in healthcare and agriculture… (1/3) #ImmigrantsThrive

— Monica Munn (@MonicaKMunn) February 9, 2022

Career pathways for allied healthcare especially creates talent pipelines so healthcare employers can fill roles faster.

Here what we mean with these examples: https://t.co/4jGDvBH2x3#ImmigrantsThrive https://t.co/MDOPnJJDyz

— EnGen (@EnGen_Impact) February 9, 2022

Upwardly Global also noted the importance of offering alternative career pathways to immigrants who hold international credentials and experience, particularly in the high-demand field of health care. With Upwardly Global’s new paid mid-career internship program (noted earlier), immigrant talent can be prepared for open jobs in the health care sector, especially in underserved communities.

A4: 2/2 The model ensures more equitable health access and outcomes in under-served communities & offers alternative career pathways for immigrants with international credentials and experience. Read more here: https://t.co/qIb3SkxWB0@nyphospital #ImmigrantsThrive

— Upwardly Global (@UpwardlyGlobal) February 9, 2022

Community colleges play a key role in helping immigrants and refugees embark on career pathways in high-demand industries by allowing them to obtain short-term, stackable certificates that they can use to launch themselves into living-wage jobs and careers. States can help introduce effective career pathways by collaborating with community colleges and human service agencies.

A5: @PortlandCC’s Integrated Education &Training Career Pathways offer students short-term, stackable certificates that prepare them for jobs in high-demand industry sectors & also provide a steppingstone to an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, & beyond #ImmigrantsThrive

— CCCIE (@CCCIE) February 9, 2022

5. Investing in the training and upskilling of immigrant and refugee workers, particularly those who are English language learners, is essential to forming more inclusive workforces in the U.S.

Employer-sponsored job training and English language classes not only help immigrants and refugees feel more welcome in the workplace, these initiatives also promote immigrant and refugee career advancement and economic mobility.

A3. As we surface more discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion – employers should not forget about upskilling workers who are speakers of other languages.

Lack of English skills is often a barrier to advancement or promotion in the workplace. #ImmigrantsThrive https://t.co/nlzAI8Khqm

— EnGen (@EnGen_Impact) February 9, 2022

A3: Invest in workers’ education and training, and incorporate linguistic supports in the workplace and/or language learning opportunities. #ImmigrantsThrivehttps://t.co/yWsJe3Dosw

— World Ed – USA (@WorldEdUS) February 9, 2022

Many immigrants and refugees have unrecognized talents and assets such as digital skills, that, with support from employers and targeted training, can be enhanced and used to pursue opportunities for growth. Employers should build on these foundational digital skills by encouraging continual digital learning and upskilling among their refugee and immigrant staff.

Twitter chat participant JFF (Jobs for the Future), in conjunction with Tent Partnership for Refugees, recently released a report titled Bridging Language & Work that outlines strategies companies can employ to invest in refugee and immigrant talent. Some of the report’s suggestions include:

• Providing tuition support so local language learners can further their career advancement
• Offering adaptable, flexible scheduling to help accommodate immigrant and refugee workers
• Providing wraparound and bridge supports, such as transportation credits and childcare services (either on-site childcare or vouchers for childcare)

A3 (1/2): Companies that invest in local language learners increase employee engagement and retention. Bridge solutions–like peer-to-peer learning and interactive training–can create a more inclusive corporate culture while meeting critical business needs. #ImmigrantsThrive https://t.co/bhqTF7ijuF

— JFF (@jfftweets) February 9, 2022

The U.S. must continue to invest in immigrants and refugees so that they have equitable access to employment opportunity and can fully participate in the workforce. We urge you to stay involved in advocacy efforts by joining IMPRINT’s #UntappedTalent campaign, an initiative helping to raise awareness and advance policies that create more inclusive economies and workforces.