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.
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.
Learn how the IMPRINT Coalition seeks to ensure immigrants and refugees are able to rejoin their careers.
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 Strengthening Immigrant Inclusion 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
© David Trozzo, All Rights Reserved.
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.
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.
