2024 Workforce Report
Powering Local Workforces, Building Cohesive Communities
Quantifying the Impact of English Upskilling on Worker Mobility, Retention, and Social Inclusion
Despite the growing share of immigrants, refugees, and speakers of other languages in the U.S. labor force, little research has been conducted on the economic and workforce impacts of English upskilling in the United States. There is even less literature available on the perspectives, motivations, and preferences of adult English learners in the U.S. The results of this survey are designed to equip employers, adult educators, state governments, and other workforce leaders with data and tools to understand the potential of high-quality, career-aligned English instruction to effectively support workforce development initiatives across the country.
Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. workers is an immigrant or refugee.1
That figure is projected to climb in the coming years as the U.S. experiences growing levels of immigration, welcome news for a workforce that has long struggled with chronic staffing shortages and demographic declines.
Immigration drove net U.S. population and labor force growth in 2023.2 Newcomers are projected to add at least $7 trillion to the U.S. economy over the next decade. Amidst strong job creation and a growing focus on hiring, immigrants, refugees, and speakers of other languages can be a high-potential source of talent for employers across the country.
Yet the U.S. workforce system misses a critical opportunity to connect this growing labor pool with a foundational workforce skill: English. The U.S. currently serves the needs of just 4% of adult English learners.3
In response, a growing number of employers, adult education programs, state and local government agencies, and other workforce leaders are making investments to fill the gap. Upskilling with English – an on-demand, career-aligned, AI-powered approach to English instruction – is showing promise to power local workforces and build more connected local communities.
Findings from a survey of nearly 2,500 adult multilingual learners show how English upskilling supports employers’ recruitment and retention goals, equips workers with high-demand English and digital literacy skills, and opens pathways to economic mobility and social inclusion.
Methodology
In January 2024, EnGen fielded a multilingual survey to nearly 15,000 adult English learners who access English upskilling through their workplaces or enrollment in adult education or workforce development programs. The response rate was 15.6%. Insights below are based on responses from 2,326 learners. Contact us to review a full list of questions included in this year’s survey.
Our 2024 survey builds on results from our 2023 survey, which was fielded to 6,261 adult English learners. The 2023 response rate was 9.6%, or 598 respondents. We are pleased to see strong support for the workforce trends we established in 2023, with a significantly higher N size.
Respondents
Survey respondents come from dozens of countries and speak more than two dozen languages.
58% of respondents access English upskilling through their employers.
42% access English upskilling via community college, nonprofit organizations, or state government initiatives.
What Is English Upskilling?
English upskilling uses career-specific content customized for working adult learners to help them acquire the English and job skills needed for career and economic mobility. Learning content on EnGen’s online platform, for example, features more than 130 industry-focused pathways with lessons that can be completed in as little as 10 minutes, along with live instruction and career-aligned coaching.
EnGen’s unique approach to English upskilling is tailored to workplace needs, and accessible to learners of all levels. Adult English learners access the platform on demand, often on a computer, during breaks at work or on a mobile device at home.
2024 KEY FINDINGS
Insight 1 Employers that invest in English upskilling see stronger employee recruitment and retention in return.
As organizations struggle with ongoing labor shortages, particularly in essential sectors like healthcare,7 hospitality,8 and manufacturing,9 they must seek out new talent pools. Yet even as 1 in 10 working-age adults is an English learner,10 many local employers don’t know how to connect with this high-potential workforce.
This year’s survey results show how offering English instruction as part of an employee benefits package can help companies attract new talent – and retain and promote incumbent workers.
“Many of our team members have gained access to opportunities they would not have otherwise without having EnGen be made available to them.”
— Administrator at a multinational food processing company
“English language skills remain and will continue to be a vital component in employers’ skilling strategies, setting the foundation from which employees can gain additional business-critical skills to help them grow into in-demand roles. We’re proud to partner with EnGen and leading employers to help employees achieve English language proficiency that supports their advancement in the future of work.”
— Terrence Cummings, Chief Opportunity Officer at Guild
"They offered me a promotion to Assistant Manager at Walmart."
– Employee at Walmart
"When I first started my job, I worked as a barback. After a few months, I was promoted from barback to server due to my improvement. And with even more progress, I was promoted again from server to bartender because my English had greatly improved.”
— Learner at Milpitas Adult Education
“At my job, they informed me that being able to speak two languages was highly valued, and as a result, they were willing to provide me with a higher salary in order to foster a positive working relationship.”
— Learner at Troy Continuing Education
Insight 2 English instruction powers more engaged and productive workplaces.
As highly engaged employees are more likely to stay with their employers,11 HR leaders are prioritizing employee experience and organizational engagement.12 Employee experience is also linked to customer experience, innovation, and companies’ bottom line.13 Companies with high “employee experience” scores saw a 25% increase in profitability relative to organizations with lower scores.14
This year’s survey results illustrate how English upskilling can improve employee confidence, communication, and connections, fostering engagement, collaboration, and safety.
“It has been heartwarming to see the pride and joy our associates have displayed since starting the EnGen program. They feel more confident and are able to use their skills in both their professional and personal lives.”
— Administrator at Compass Group USA
“I used to have no self-confidence in communicating with my colleagues and would only greet them and avoid talking to them. But now I can establish much better communication.”
— Employee at Amazon
“Now that I can speak English very well, I have gained confidence and can put more effort into my job and working with my coworkers."
— Employee at a U.S. biopharmaceutical company
"I am now well integrated into the work environment, I can speak with colleagues from different countries in English and even speak with my supervisor in English without searching for a word in my head like I did at the beginning."
— Learner with the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center
Insight 3 English upskilling and digital upskilling go hand-in-hand.
A full 92% of jobs in the U.S. require digital literacy15 – defined as the ability to access, create, and share information on computers and digital media platforms. Yet 1 in 3 U.S. workers,16 including 2 in 3 workers with emerging English proficiency,17 don’t have these skills, creating a significant skills gap for employers.
This year’s survey points to technology-mediated English instruction as a solution to bridge both the English barrier and the digital literacy gap, connecting workers with high-demand skills needed to take on new roles and responsibilities in their companies.
“Our students are able to complete lessons that are curated to the reason for study. EnGen is especially helpful to advanced learners and learners that have jobs in which English is used. EnGen also requires the student to use digital literacy skills to navigate the program.”
— Administrator at Michigan MiSide.org
"I liked EnGen because I have been learning how to use the computer, which I didn't even know how to turn on before."
— Employee at a multinational food processing company
“[I received] a new job offer for having computer knowledge.”
— Employee at Amazon
“EnGen helped me to use the computer, talk to my colleagues, and I was able to understand the English of a native speaker by listening."
— Learner at the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center
Insight 4 English upskilling opens pathways to new credentials, certifications, and careers.
Frontline workers, many of whom are immigrants,18 prioritize job growth and learning as much as pay19 – but say that a lack of employer-provided development opportunities is a core barrier to their advancement. Indeed, many job training programs treat English as a prerequisite to (rather than a part of) career development opportunities, stymying adult English learners’ career and economic mobility.
What’s more, not all training is created equal. Time, transportation, and caregiving responsibilities create barriers to learning, keeping many working adults from accessing traditional, classroom-based instruction, and pathways to new careers in high-demand fields.
Companies of all sizes and sectors are delivering accessible learning opportunities to employees by offering English upskilling as part of on-the-job training and employee benefits packages. Other employers partner directly with local community colleges to integrate industry-aligned English instruction into employee training programs.
This year's survey speaks to the power of online, on-demand, and contextualized English upskilling to open more of these upskilling pathways to employees.
“This program has been a true game changer for students. They are now more confident, capable, and prepared for their future roles.”
— Administrator at a public university system
“I was able to pass the national exam for my profession in the U.S.A. and obtain a license. Now I am preparing to open a small business.”
— Learner at Ysleta Community College
“I’ve earned an Associate Degree in Supply Chain.”
— Employee at Amazon
"I have been attending English classes at the library in my town, but with EnGen I understand more through the auditory and written practice they provide."
— Learner employed at a U.S. retail corporation
Insight 5 English skills build more cohesive local communities.
From better communication with their children’s teachers to increased civic engagement, adults have a variety of real-world motivations for learning English. Job seekers increasingly prioritize employers that prioritize their dignity and agency,20 along with their health and happiness.21
Our survey results show how the opportunity to learn English drives tangible benefits across communities.
“My adult learners are more confident and are eager to keep expanding their learning, their networks, and their opportunities for personal and professional growth. They are on this path every day!”
— Administrator at New Readers Press, My American Dream
"My daughter is in school and it allows me to communicate better with her teachers."
— Employee at Gap Inc.
"I am now able to communicate with my family doctor without any obstacles."
— Employee at Amazon
“I always like to help people, and now I am able to help my family with their daily activities such as communication with people in different scenarios.”
— Learner at Eastern Gateway Community College
Learn More
Click below for additional insights from your sector.
Endnotes
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Labor Force Characteristics of Foreign-born Workers Summary,” May 21, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/forbrn.nr0.htm
Mike Schneider and the Associated Press, “ U.S. population increase in 2023 was driven by the most immigrants since 2001—and immigration will be the ‘main source of growth in the future,” Fortune, December 20, 2023, https://fortune.com/2023/12/20/u-s-population-increase-in-2023-was-driven-by-the-most-immigrants-since-2001-and-immigration-will-be-the-main-source-of-growth-in-the-future/
Rich Miller, “Surge in Immigration Will Boost U.S. Economy, Congressional Budget Office Says,” Time, February 7, 2024, https://time.com/6692645/immigration-economy-us-gdp-growth-cbo-report/
Lauren Kaori Gurley, Abha Bhattarai and Rachel Siegel, “Employers added 303,000 jobs in March, soaring past expectations,” The Washington Post, April 5, 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/04/05/jobs-march-unemployment-rate/
Paige McGlauflin and Joseph Abrams, “HR leaders share their No. 1 priority for 2024 as they brace for a decline in retention and employee engagement,” Fortune, December 12, 2023, https://fortune.com/2023/12/12/hr-priority-2024-retention-employees-engagement/
Margie McHugh and Catrina Doxsee, “English Plus Integration,” Migration Policy Institute, October 2018, https://www.migrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/publications/AdultEd_EnglishPlusIntegration_Final.pdf
Eliza Hetrick, “Labor trends to watch in 2024: A U.S. economic outlook and sector play-by-play,” Fast Company, December 14, 2023, https://www.fastcompany.com/90995366/labor-trends-to-watch-in-2024-a-u-s-economic-outlook-and-sector-play-by-play
Esther Hertzfeld, “AHLA: 82% of surveyed hotels report staffing shortages,” Hotel Management, June 6, 2023, https://www.hotelmanagement.net/operate/82-surveyed-hotels-report-staffing-shortages
John Coykendall, Kate Hardin, John Morehouse, “2024 manufacturing industry outlook,” Deloitte, https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/manufacturing/manufacturing-industry-outlook.html
Jill H. Wilson, “ Investing in English Skills: The Limited English Proficient Workforce in U.S. Metropolitan Areas,” Brookings, September 24, 2014, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/investing-in-english-skills-the-limited-english-proficient-workforce-in-u-s-metropolitan-areas/
Wellable, “11 Employee Engagement Statistics You Should Know For 2024,” https://www.wellable.co/blog/employee-engagement-statistics-you-should-know/
Paige McGlauflin and Joseph Abrams, “HR leaders share their No. 1 priority for 2024 as they brace for a decline in retention and employee engagement.”
Denise Lee Yohn, “Engaged Employees Create Better Customer Experiences,” Harvard Business Review, April 5, 2023, https://hbr.org/2023/04/engaged-employees-create-better-customer-experiences
Kristine Dery and Ina M. Sebastian, “Building Business Value with Employee Experience,” MIT Center for Information Systems Research,” June 15, 2017, https://cisr.mit.edu/publication/2017_0601_EmployeeExperience_DerySebastian
Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, Roderick Taylor, and Nye Hodge, “Closing the Digital Skill Divide,” National Skills Coalition, February 2023, https://nationalskillscoalition.org/resource/publications/closing-the-digital-skill-divide/
Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, Roderick Taylor, and Nye Hodge, “Closing the Digital Skill Divide.”
Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, Roderick Taylor, and Nye Hodge, “Closing the Digital Skill Divide.”
Hye Jin Rho, Hayley Brown, and Shawn Fremstad, “A Basic Demographic
Profile of Workers in Frontline Industries,” Center for Economic and Policy Research, April 2020, https://cepr.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020-04-Frontline-Workers.pdf
Swathi Bhaskaran, Andrew Davis, Christophe Desbrière, and Sara Wasserteil, “Bridging the advancement gap: What frontline employees want—and what employers think they want,” McKinsey & Company, July 21, 2022, https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/bridging-the-advancement-gap-what-frontline-employees-want-and-what-employers-think-they-want
Sarah Miller, Merissa Piazza, Ashley Putnam, and Kristen Broady, “Worker Voices: Shifting perspectives and expectations on employment,” Fed Communities, May 24, 2023, https://fedcommunities.org/research/worker-voices/2023-executive-summary/
Kara Dennison, “ Why Companies Should Prioritize Employee Health And Happiness In 2024,” Forbes, October 24, 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/karadennison/2023/10/24/why-companies-should-prioritize-employee-health-and-happiness-in-2024/
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.