English for Advancement

The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have hit communities of color, women, and low-income workers the hardest. Within these already-underserved communities, individuals with limited English proficiency face even higher barriers to entering into and advancing within the labor force. Though this population has a wealth of skills that could contribute to economic recovery, it is often underutilized, even when employer demand is high. Because traditional workforce development initiatives have typically overlooked this population, new and targeted approaches are needed to help immigrants and English language learners access the labor market.

As state and local governments consider their options for spending American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, they should consider investing in an English for Advancement (EfA) program, designed to help individuals with limited English proficiency enter and advance in the labor force. EfA pairs workplace-contextualized English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes with personalized career coaching services, helping English language learners gain both necessary English skills and an ability to navigate the U.S. job search and hiring process.

EfA has the potential to transform the way adult education is delivered, funded, and measured to better align with workforce development goals. It is an evidence-based intervention, with proven benefits for employment and earnings outcomes among target populations. This directly meets workforce development needs critical to COVID-19 economic recovery, with a particular emphasis on traditionally underserved communities, making it well-suited for the use of ARP funds.