Public Policy
Good public policy is the bedrock of thriving and resilient communities. In both Canada and the United States, WES works with countless partners to develop and advocate policies that enable immigrants, refugees, and international students to contribute fully to the communities where they live.
Learn more about our policy work and recommendations below.
Ideas & Impact
To help create such change, we partner with organizations, institutions, networks, and governments on programs, policy, advocacy, research and grantmaking to benefit immigrants, refugees, international students, and the communities they join.
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How State and Local Efforts Are Leading the Way on Data Collection to Better Serve Immigrants and Refugees
Sharif Krabti |
In April 2024, the United States Department of Labor released the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Final Report, which analyzes barriers to economic inclusion as well as strategies for overcoming them. In its analysis of currently available resources, the report highlights the need for additional data on internationally trained immigrant and refugee job seekers. […]
#ImmigrantsWork: Localizing Strategies for Harnessing International Talent in Communities Across Canada
WES Global Talent Bridge |
As Canada’s labour market adapts to challenges associated with COVID-19 and to changes in public health measures, there is a spike in demand for talent, especially in sectors that were already facing worker shortages. According to Statistics Canada, 130,000 people left the workforce after the onset of the pandemic and are no longer seeking employment. While there were 731,900 jobs in the second quarter of 2021 that needed to be filled, some experts project that vacancies will continue […]
‘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 […]
#ImmigrantsWork Campaign: Key Themes from the Launch
Devon Franklin |
On May 21, over 100 contributors joined the launch of the #ImmigrantsWork campaign through a Twitter chat. The #ImmigrantsWork campaign aims to raise awareness of the meaningful contributions immigrants have made to the Canadian economy, as well as their continued impact in Canada’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The launch convened influential voices on the […]