Colorado’s Investment in English Upskilling Opens Pathways to Career Growth for Workers Across the State
Innovative program boosts wages, addresses labor shortages, and strengthens local economies by connecting workers with career-aligned English skills
Denver, CO – October 29, 2024 – EnGen today released results from its collaboration with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s Office of New Americans (ONA) in supporting Colorado’s Virtual Career-Aligned English as a Second Language (VCESL) program. The program, which was designed to upskill incumbent workers and address labor shortages in critical sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing, achieved a remarkable milestone: 86% of Colorado workers surveyed by EnGen reported achieving a real-world goal, including a raise or promotion after completing the program.
As part of the VCESL program, 4,000 EnGen licenses were offered free of charge to workers affiliated with nearly 50 Colorado-based employers, adult education providers, and workforce development organizations. The impact of the statewide offering indicates that at-scale English upskilling can be a powerful workforce development tool. In Colorado and across the U.S., 1 in 10 working-age adults is an English learner. By connecting these workers with English skills needed to succeed in jobs in high-demand fields, English upskilling drives workers’ career mobility, boosts employers recruitment and retention efforts, and powers local economies.
“Multilingual learners are often left out of workforce development initiatives. Colorado’s investment speaks volumes about the importance – and impact – of accessible, career-aligned English training,” said Dr. Katie Brown, Founder and Chief Education Officer of EnGen. “When workers are given the right tools, they can unlock their potential, leading to economic mobility for their families and significant gains for local economies. English upskilling is an investment that more than pays for itself.”
Key findings from EnGen’s Colorado impact report include:
95% of learners improved their confidence in using English at work and beyond.
90% improved their job skills.
86% achieved a real-world goal, like a pay raise or promotion after completing their training.
88% reported improvements in their digital literacy , a skill required for more than 9 in 10 jobs in the U.S.
The program added nearly $4.7 million to the local economy, yielding a $7 return for every $1 invested.
Colorado’s forward-thinking investment in upskilling is providing a model that other states can replicate, building fully-staffed, future-ready local workforces.
Click here to download EnGen’s full report.
About EnGen
EnGen offers an at-scale, AI-powered approach to English instruction, designed to solve a systemic access issue: Adult English learners now represent 1 in 10 working-age adults, yet the U.S. serves the needs of just 4% of these speakers of other languages. A Certified B Corporation, EnGen partners with employers, adult educators, workforce development and state governments to open pathways to careers and credentials in high-demand industries. EnGen’s career-aligned approach addresses employers’ recruitment and retention challenges and advances learners’ economic mobility.