Press Release: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) Renews the Virtual Career-Aligned English as a Second Language Program

NOTE: This press release was originally published by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Read the full text here.

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 (DENVER) — The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) announced today the renewal of the Virtual Career-Aligned English as a Second Language (VCESL) program, a statewide initiative that connects Colorado businesses and job seekers with career-focused, virtual English instruction for employers and job seekers. VCESL’s goal is to upskill workers and build new talent pipelines for Colorado employers. The initiative helps English learners thrive in the workforce while supporting employers in hiring and retaining a more diverse, multilingual team.

VCESL initially launched in Colorado during the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year within CDLE’s Office of New Americans (ONA). The renewal of the VCESL program will be a collaborative effort between CDLE's Employment & Training division, the Colorado Workforce Development Council and EnGen. EnGen’s platform provides on-demand, workforce-aligned English language instruction. Delivered virtually, the program reaches Coloradans statewide, removing barriers to language learning and career growth. The program is available to employers in order to offer English courses to their staff, as well as to job seekers who can enroll in courses through their local workforce center.  

The VCESL program provides:

  • No-cost access to EnGen’s English, on-demand, virtual upskilling platform with comprehensive enrollment support.

  • Access to more than 170 career-aligned English courses.

  • 1:1 support from multilingual coaches and live online classes and workshops.

  • Virtual, career-focused English classes tailored to in-demand industries and occupations.

“CDLE’s VCESL program directly invests in the workforce by providing English language learners with career-aligned language proficiency,” said Stephanie Mufic, Associate Director of Strategic Engagement at CDLE. “This initiative isn't just about language; it's about unlocking untapped potential, boosting productivity, improving retention and strengthening the state’s competitive edge in today’s evolving economy. This program offers a proven solution to upskill teams and build a more robust, integrated workforce.”

In Colorado, one in eight workers is an immigrant or refugee, of which 42% are English language learners (ELL). Nearly 25,000(opens in new window) of these workers hold in-demand degrees and credentials but face unemployment and underemployment due to language barriers, exacerbating staffing shortages in essential sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, green energy and more.

ONA saw great success when it facilitated the VCESL program during the 2023-2024 fiscal year(opens in new window). During that time, ONA connected more than 4,000 Coloradans with career-aligned English courses. A survey of 250 of those Coloradans showed the following results:

  • 95% reported improved confidence in speaking and writing English on the job and beyond.

  • 86% achieved a real-world goal, like a pay raise or promotion after completing their VCESL training.

  • 88% reported improvements in their digital literacy, a skill required for more than nine in 10 jobs in the U.S.

“The program helped me polish my English vocabulary in the field of medicine, which gave me the confidence to interview for a new job as a medical assistant,” said Genesis, a physician from Venezuela who took VCESL courses through EnGen to restart her medical career in Colorado.  “I’m now back to work in the healthcare field, which is an important first step in my career journey here.”

“English learners are a very important part of the overall operations of our business. We wanted to provide a way to increase English comprehension in a user-friendly format that fits into the busy schedules of our team," said Alison Torres, the HR Business Partner of Leiters Health. "Thanks to the VCESL program, many of our employees have increased their English comprehension in a matter of months. Communication has greatly improved across our organization.”

Colorado-based employers and job seekers alike are encouraged to visit a local workforce center to learn more or  register directly to access free EnGen licenses for VCESL courses(opens in new window). A Spanish version of the registration form(opens in new window) is also available. 

Sara McElmurry