U.S. Programs
State and local leaders understand how best to advance economic inclusion in their own communities. WES brings these leaders together in collaborative networks where they can adapt and adopt effective strategies to ensure economic mobility.
The Challenge
Systemic barriers to economic mobility—including limited recognition of credentials earned in other countries—impact individuals who are seeking to resume their careers. This denies communities critical social, cultural, and linguistic competence, and keeps millions of dollars out of the U.S. economy each year.
U.S. Programs
State and Local Initiatives
Our state and local programs support a network of communities that promote the economic inclusion of internationally trained immigrants and refugees. Our flagship initiative is the Skilled Immigrant Integration Program (SIIP), which includes dozens of U.S. communities working to create opportunities for all residents to put their skills and training to work.
U.S. Programs
The Global Talent Leadership Network
The Global Talent Leadership Network (GTLN) is a hub for immigrant- and refugee-led organizations that support the economic inclusion of immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials in the United States. GTLN leaders span diverse professional sectors, countries of origin, and U.S. geographical regions.
U.S. Programs
Career Pathways
WES Career Pathways guides are customizable resources designed to help immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers understand how to resume the careers they began abroad. These guides cover professions ranging from nursing, to engineering, to allied health, and can be adapted by states and municipalities seeking to build a more inclusive and resilient local workforce.
U.S. Programs
The WES Program Map
Our U.S. Program Map features more than 100 programs and services that foster the economic and professional advancement of internationally trained immigrants and refugees in the United States. The programs focus on career preparation, contextualized English language learning, and licensing and credentialing guidance and are offered by a range of organizations, including advocacy and public education institutions and technical assistance and resource providers. The map’s data tool displays demographic data on college-educated immigrants and refugees in the U.S.
U.S. Programs
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Partners
Partners are at the heart of all our work. Across the U.S, we engage with community-based organizations, community colleges, workforce development organizations, and other groups to put research and best practices into action and promote equity and inclusion for immigrants and refugees.
Advancing an Inclusive Economy
Immigrants and refugees make up 17 percent of the U.S. labor force, and nearly half of recently arrived immigrants and refugees hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. According to the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), more than two million immigrants and refugees with college degrees are underemployed or unemployed in the U.S. Sixty percent of those hold credentials earned abroad. Policy reforms and effective programming are needed to ensure that everyone has a fair chance of reaching their career and educational goals in the U.S.
Read on to learn about their experiences and the work WES and its partners are doing to help people rejoin their careers in the U.S.
Toyosi
“U.S. employers didn’t understand my professional experience from Nigeria or what I could offer here.”
Toyosi earned a political science degree in Nigeria and built a successful career in the country’s non-profit sector, working on wide-ranging social issues with international NGOs. But when she moved to the U.S. in 2018, her extensive experience & international credentials were not understood or valued. She took a job as a personal shopper with an online service to pay her bills.
With support from Boston-based African Bridge Network, a partner organization of the SIIP Demonstration partnership opportunity, Toyosi secured a role with a local nonprofit focused on addressing hunger.
Ivana
“I was a household name as a journalist in Africa, but that experience isn’t recognized in the U.S.”
Ivana was a well-known journalist in Sudan and South Sudan, using her platform to advance gender equality. When she came to the U.S. in 2017, she took a role as a home-health aide. She works long hours to provide for her three children. Limited recognition of her prior experience and credentials has kept her from rebuilding her journalism career in the U.S. “But the hope is always there,” Ivana says.
Ivana worked working with Upwardly Global, an IMPRINT member organization,. Learn more about their work.
Iryna
“I have two degrees from Ukraine and years of experience working in marketing, but my background isn’t recognized in the U.S.”
Iryna came to the U.S. from Ukraine in 2019 with degrees—in both marketing and translation—and years of experience working in the field of marketing. To advance in her career, Iryna recently completed several digital marketing courses. With support from The Job Up, a work-readiness accelerator for immigrants seeking to use their credentials, and member of the WES-based Global Talent Leadership Network, she has polished her resumé, grown a professional network, and secured numerous interviews. Yet time and time again, promising positions were offered to other candidates. To pay her bills, Iryna began working in customer service at an e-commerce company.
Greisy
“I invested years building a law career in the Dominican Republic, but it felt like I was going to have to start from zero in the U.S.”
Greisy was an attorney in the Dominican Republic. When she came to the U.S., she was unable to practice law. With support from IMPRINT member organization Upwardly Global, Greisy secured a job in New York City’s financial sector, but there are many more internationally trained immigrants and refugees who face systemic barriers in rebuilding careers in the U.S.
Donatella
“I was a licensed lawyer in Italy, but my credentials aren’t recognized in the U.S. I’m now starting over, working to earn a paralegal certificate.”
Donatella earned a master’s degree in law and an Italian bar certificate before enjoying an eight-year career with an international corporation in Italy. But since moving to the U.S., she has been unable to practice law as her credentials aren’t recognized.
Instead, Donatella has worked as a retail sales associate. The JobUp—a work-readiness accelerator for immigrants seeking to use their credentials and member of the WES-based Global Talent Leadership Network—put her on a path to professional relaunch. With time and persistence, she was offered a position as a legal assistant at a law firm in New York City. She is currently working to earn both paralegal and notary public certifications.
Donatella is one of the two million immigrants and refugees with a bachelor’s degree or higher who are underemployed in the U.S. Sixty percent hold credentials earned in other countries. Policy reforms are needed to ensure that everyone has a fair chance of reaching their career and educational goals in the U.S.
Kawser
“I wanted to continue my work toward women’s empowerment in the U.S., but my first job was in a sector I’d never worked in before.”
As a member of the national Afghan women’s soccer team and an outspoken gender equity advocate, Kawser Amine blazed trails for women in Afghanistan. With a degree in international relations, she worked for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and for Afghanistan’s First Lady in Kabul before relocating to the United States with her family as a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holder.
In the U.S., Kawser’s immigration status disqualified her from holding the federal government jobs she aspired to, and her credentials and experience earned in Afghanistan were not readily recognized by many U.S. employers. She took a job as a bank teller to support her family.
Today, after receiving support from IMPRINT steering committee member organization Upwardly Global, a national non-profit that eliminates employment barriers on behalf of immigrant and refugee professionals, Kawser Amine works as a refugee community organizer in Northern California. She also recently launched a non-profit organization focused on advancing women’s leadership and gender equity, to empower women to support other women.