Salt Lake City, UT — Immigrants arriving in the United States often encounter significant obstacles when trying to rebuild their lives. In Utah, a new initiative aims to help qualified individuals reach their full potential.
A recent study by the Department of Labor revealed that 44 percent of college-educated refugees face an education-to-occupation mismatch or are unemployed. Natalie El-Diery, director of immigration and new American integration at the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, noted that the licensing and re-credentialing processes can be overwhelming for many immigrants. However, the state’s Center for Global Talent and New Americans is actively supporting Utah businesses by creating talent pipelines from existing work-authorized immigrant communities. The center also assists businesses in identifying opportunities to recruit talent through employment visas.
El-Diery stated, “We recognize that a population of immigrants and refugees has lived in Utah for a long time. Our goal is to connect these new American communities with economic opportunities that benefit their livelihoods.”
As Utah’s workforce ages, nearly 300,000 immigrants, many of whom are of working age, could help address this issue. El-Diery emphasized that the state’s New American Task Force is dedicated to maximizing talent and ensuring that more immigrants can utilize their education, skills, and experience. New Americans make up over 8 percent of the state’s population but represent more than 10 percent of STEM workers and almost 13 percent of physicians.
One major challenge for internationally trained immigrants and refugees is English proficiency. El-Diery acknowledged that while Utah has several excellent programs to improve basic English skills, more resources are needed for those looking to return to their previous industries.
“We understand that English proficiency is one of the biggest challenges,” El-Diery said. “We hear this from industry leaders, nonprofits, and the individuals themselves. Our goal is to offer additional resources to help.”
Despite the heated political discourse surrounding immigration, El-Diery remains optimistic. She believes that through the work of the task force, Utah residents can discover that they have more in common with the immigrant community than they might think.
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