Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning

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1 Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Division of Workforce Development

2 Filling the Needs and Preparing for Change Limited English Job Seekers: Now and in the Future New American Workforce

3 No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. - Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 President Clinton s Executive Order issued in August was reaffirmed both successive Presidents: George W. Bush in Oct and Barack Obama in Feb. 2011, -seeking to improve access to services and activities for LEP persons. Maryland Born LEP population: 9.7 Percent MD s foreign Born LEP population: 38 percent MD s LEP College graduates: 25 percent 3

4 Governor Martin O Malley s Executive Order to expedite immigrant integration into the economic and civic life of the state Maryland Council for New Americans 1. Workforce improving licensing, credentialing for New Americans; 2. Citizenship coordinating citizenship initiatives; 3. Financial Services Educating and protecting Americans from becoming the target of frauds against people with limited English proficiency; 4. Government Access providing New Americans with opportunities to understand, access, and participate in local government affairs. 4

5 The DLLR/DWDAL New American Program focus is to develop a sustainable workforce among the foreign-born population. 5

6 Maryland s New American population 803,700 14% of the 5,785,982 general population Lower than New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California February 2012 According to the Commission to Study the Impact of Immigrants: Maryland s New Americans are concentrated mainly in Montgomery and Prince George s Counties, accounting for nearly 61% ( ); Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County account for another 29% 6

7 Maryland s New American population 803,700 14% of the 5,785,982 general population Lower than New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California The Commission reviewed data for immigrants on : Eastern Shore ACS 2010 Report numbered New American residents (not including Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers on H2A and H2B Visas) for the following counties: Wicomico, Queen Anne s, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Talbot under 15,000 for approximately 275,000 natives 7

8 New Americans everywhere, in counties on the West side of the Bay Bridge, they experience various degrees of Limited English Proficiency, resulting in a host of social issues In their 2010 Report for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Urban Institute states: 18 % of children of immigrants in Maryland lived in linguistically-isolated households. The number is higher, up to 29%, for children of low-income immigrants. Because children of immigrants have LEP parents at home, these children often have lower performance experiences at school. The Institute s Report mentions a strong correlation between English Proficiency and poverty, while factoring in the low level of education of many immigrants. By giving New American workers the opportunity to learn the English language, children are more likely to perform better at school. Children performing well at school benefits society as a whole! 8

9 , New Initiatives such as this one spearheaded by Upper Shore WIB, Dan McDermott, and his team will be duplicated throughout the other eleven local WIBS and Baltimore City. This initiative promotes New American integration and is directly aligned with the recommendations of the Maryland Council for New Americans. Environments with language barriers, protectionist policies, and workforce hindrances may not see all the benefits of foreign-born workers. Our goal at DLLR-DWDAL, and with benevolent involvement of LWIA like the Upper Shore WIB, we can strengthen the New American Workforce: comply with Federal and state laws to provide equal access to public services for LEP individuals - promote good corporate responsibilities among employers, ease the seamless integration of LEP job seekers in the workforce & society. Fin 9

10 For more information Contact Rodrigue Vital at or dllr.maryland.gov mwejobs.maryland.gov 10 10