Integration Institute: Workforce Development

Massachusetts has one of the most highly skilled immigrant workforces in the U.S. In 2009, 34% of immigrants in Massachusetts held a bachelor's degree or higher educational credential, placing us twelfth in the nation in this regard. (Source: MPI Massachusetts Fact Sheet). Yet many immigrants find themselves unemployed or underemployed due to the expense and time required to become fully integrated in their fields, as well as language barriers and inadequate networking opportunities. This problem affects a broad population of immigrants, including refugees who fled their native countries out of necessity as well as those who made advance plans to immigrate yet may not have been fully informed of state-specific credentialing processes. The NAII's workforce development project focuses on reducing skill under-utilization among immigrants -- or "brain waste" -- and promoting integration of immigrant professionals in Massachusetts.

The Institute draws on the expertise of the NAII Advisory Board as well as other experts in workforce development to arrive at strategies for building structures and programs to ease professional integration and policy recommendations for safely and effectively streamlining processes such as credentialing, training and language acquisition. The Institute will create an online clearinghouse of information which draws together resources on the professional development in Massachusetts, as well as resources currently available to help immigrants navigate these processes. Additionally, the Institute will connect immigrants seeking to practice in their fields with others who have successfully integrated, through a Peer Pipeline which will provide both electronic and in-person networking opportunities. Currently, researchers with the Institute are examining workforce shortages in Massachusetts as well as existent barriers for immigrant professionals in the fields of health care and engineering, an initial step in the development of the Institute's policy recommendations.

English language proficiency is essential for the ability of immigrants trained abroad to obtain employment that fully utilizes their skills. Enhancing ESOL access, including access to classes targeted to particular industries, is therefore essential to any effort to combat underutilization of immigrant professionals, and by extension to the full potential of our workforce. Drawing on the expertise of stakeholders including ESOL providers and funders; large employers in hospitality, health care and other industries; labor unions; educational institutions and business associations; the Institute will work to promote and expand successful models of increasing ESOL classes, including classes targeted to immigrant professionals trained abroad.

Number of Immigrant Professionals*
|0-499|500-999|1000-1499|1500-1999|2000-2499|2500-2999|3000+

Resources:
● Violet  - Educational Institutions (38)
● Blue     - ESOL/ABE Programs (210)
● Green - MIRA Members/CBOs (140)
● Red      - Career Centers (33)  

*Defined as foreign-born individuals with a Bachelor's degree or higher (Source: MIRA's Analysis of American Community Survey 2006-2010)