Unlocking Opportunity: Why English Skills Are Essential to the Future of Work
EnGen had the honor of participating in a powerful panel at JFF’s 2025 Horizons Conference, focused on a high potential—but too often overlooked—talent pipeline: adult English language learners.
These workers represent 1 in 10 working-age adults in the U.S. Many bring the skills, credentials, and experience that employers urgently need—but are held back by English barriers, unrecognized qualifications, and limited access to professional networks.
We need to champion multilingual workers and find creative ways to ensure this talent pool can build the English skills they need to thrive. When we create systems that recognize and support the full range of talent in our local communities, everyone benefits.
Here are a key takeaways from the discussion:
English skills are workforce skills. Connecting workers with English skills directly addresses employer challenges like on-the-job communication and safety–along with recruitment, retention, and advancement too. English upskilling strengthens internal talent pipelines and aligns with a broader shift toward skills-based hiring.
Integration matters. English instruction shouldn’t be siloed. Embedding English instruction within job training and career pathways makes language more relevant, effective, and immediately applicable on the job.
Policy plays a pivotal role. When states recognize English as a workforce skill and align funding and strategy accordingly, they can help scale programs that work. State agencies in places like Maine, Michigan, and Colorado are leading the way.
Funding must be flexible and braided. Programs that combine resources across workforce development, adult education, and economic development—rather than relying on a single funding stream—are better equipped to deliver lasting impact.
We need to align across systems. Career-focused English instruction can be a foundation for industry-recognized credentials and long-term mobility—but only when education providers, employers, and workforce systems are working in sync.
Employers are stepping up. Companies like Chobani, McDonald’s, the Gap, Amazon, Walmart, and Target are investing in English skills as a core part of their talent strategy—recognizing that their frontline workers are also their future leaders.
Across the board, we heard stories of talented workers—nurses, engineers, customer service pros—who have everything they need to contribute to the U.S. workforce except access to English instruction. English skills can be built quickly when instruction is designed with purpose.
The big takeaway? Treating English as a barrier keeps talent on the sidelines. Viewing it as a gateway creates opportunity—for workers, employers, and all of us.
EnGen is a comprehensive talent development solution that connects workers with high-demand skills, powering business outcomes and local economies. Learn how EnGen can work for your organization: https://getengen.com/demo