Unlocking Untapped Talent: Insights from SXSW EDU

EnGen spent last week in Austin at SXSW EDU with a powerful charge: to ensure that this world-class convening about building a future-ready workforce included a focus on adult English learners—who represent 1 in 10 working-age adults.

We were proud to be part of the only immigrant-focused presentation at the conference, featuring EnGen founder Katie Brown with Arturo Cazares from Latino Business Action Network, Jina Krause-Vilmar from Upwardly Global, and Ramona Schindelheim from WorkingNation. 

Together, panelists shared insights on “Making the Economic Case for Workforce Access for Immigrants,” offering takeaways for adult educators, employers, and workforce development leaders nationwide.  

1/ Newcomers are an untapped yet critical talent pool. 

The numbers are clear: Newcomers make up 14% of the U.S. population, but they punch above their weight in the U.S. workforce, representing nearly 20% of workers and up to 25% of entrepreneurs. They’re the backbone of industries like healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing, and many bring multilingual abilities and valuable experience to their roles. Projections point to newcomers being the only source of labor force growth in the U.S. in coming decades, yet millions of high potential workers are currently unemployed or underemployed across the U.S., the result of factors like English barriers. 

2/ Underemployment is a systemic yet solvable problem. 

Preparing workers for career success means connecting them with high-demand skills—and newcomers and adult English learners are no different. Yet for too long, the U.S. has relegated this talent to the sidelines of our workforce, with limited capacity for English instruction and job training. Organizations like Upwardly Global and the Latino Business Action Network are challenging the status quo with customized coaching for internationally trained professionals and entrepreneurs—and EnGen is demonstrating that English upskilling can be a powerful part of workforce development strategies. 

3/ Change requires collaboration. 

Creating lasting change requires an ecosystem approach, engaging adult educators, employers, local government leaders, and nonprofits in recognizing the potential of untapped talent pools. Cross-sector collaborations are key to unlocking scalable, sustainable solutions that bridge the gap between workers in low-wage roles and educational opportunities that enable economic mobility and family-sustaining incomes.  EnGen is proud to partner with employers and upskilling organizations—many of whom also presented at SXSW EDU—that  prioritize English upskilling as a key part of their workforce development initiatives. 

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