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How a New York Bill Would Allow Internationally Trained Physicians to Practice
Ngoc Nguyen |
In 2009, Dr. Islam moved to New York City from Bangladesh. Straightaway, he was struck by the lack of opportunities to work in medicine or in a health care role that made use of his skills and experience. Despite graduating from one of the top medical schools in Bangladesh and working there as a physician, he became […]
How Two Immigrant-Led Organizations Are Harnessing an Opportunity to Create a More Inclusive Health Care Workforce
Trevor Shealy |
The United States faces growing health care workforce shortages, which are only expected to increase in the coming decade with projections estimating a national shortfall of over 900,000 nurses and up to 124,000 physicians by the year 2030. To address this issue, analysts and policymakers have begun looking to immigrants and refugees with health […]
State Policy Priorities for 2024: Promoting the Career Mobility and Economic Advancement of Immigrants and Refugees
Natalie Torres |
In 2023, states across the country passed legislation to advance the economic and career mobility of immigrants and refugees (the recent WES 2023 State Policy Report highlights these reforms). During 2024 state legislative sessions, policymakers have renewed opportunities to propose measures that bolster state economic interests and the economic mobility of immigrants and refugees. Labor […]
New Virginia Law Will Foster Inclusion in Teacher Workforce
Sara McElmurry |
Over the past decade, more than 300,000 new students have been added to Virginia’s K-12 schools. However, during that same period, only 3,000 new employees were hired. The number of unfilled teaching positions across the commonwealth jumped 62 percent in just two years, from the school year 2018-2019 to 2020-2021. Last August, 76 of Virginia’s […]
Advancing an Inclusive Economic Recovery: Top Five Policy Priorities for 2022
Sara McElmurry and Fatima Sanz |
The year 2022 brings a renewed call for policy reforms that ensure an inclusive workforce and equal opportunity for all so that immigrants, refugees, and international students no longer face barriers to advancing in their careers in the United States. Immigrants and refugees make up 17 percent of the U.S. labor force, and nearly half […]
Renewed Call to Action on “Bridging the Gap” Legislation
Jacki Esposito |
A physician with 25 years’ experience as head of a government clinic in Afghanistan’s Herat province came to the United States in 2019. He holds a degree from an Afghan medical college along with nearly 30 health-related trainings and certifications. However, to support his family, he has taken a job stocking shelves at a big-box […]
Advocates Instrumental in Driving More Inclusive Workforce in Maine
Fatima Sanz |
WES Global Talent Bridge is publishing a series of blog posts that highlight the critical work and unique perspectives of the IMPRINT Coalition. The New Mainers Resource Center (NMRC) is a Portland Adult Education program serving immigrants, refugees, and employers in the Greater Portland area. The NMRC’s Program Coordinator, Sally Sutton, has been a leader in advancing […]
‘Improving Opportunities’ Legislation Passes House with Bipartisan Support
Jacki Esposito |
Last week, bipartisan legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives, putting the United States a step closer to envisioning a workforce that works for all. First introduced in August 2020 as a stand-alone bill with bipartisan support, the Improving Opportunities for New Americans Act was reintroduced in June 2021 with six bipartisan co-sponsors. The legislation […]
How Buffalo’s Commitment to Immigrant Inclusion Reversed Decades of Decline
Sara McElmurry |
The 2020 census revealed a trend that city leaders in Buffalo, New York, had not seen in seven decades: growth. As of last year, the city was home to 278,349 residents, a 6.5 percent increase since 2010. The growth, the first recorded in Buffalo since the 1950 census, is the result of a dedicated effort […]
Advancing Inclusion From Capitol Hill to Local Economies
Sara McElmurry |
WES Global Talent Bridge is publishing a series of blog posts that highlight the critical work and unique perspectives of IMPRINT network members. This month, WES Global Talent Bridge communications and policy consultant Sara McElmurry connected with Jina Krause-Vilmar, president and CEO of Upwardly Global, a national non-profit that eliminates employment barriers for immigrant and […]
To Successfully Welcome Refugees, We Must Build an Inclusive Workforce and Economy
Sara McElmurry |
This spring President Biden revised the annual refugee admissions cap to 62,500, reversing course on the record-low level of 15,000 set by the previous administration. The president’s decision ended months of uncertainty and reconfirmed the commitment of the United States “to protect the most vulnerable.” Following yesterday’s observance of World Refugee Day, the president can […]