Last year, the so-called Great Resignation came to an end as quit rates returned to pre-pandemic levels. But this return to the status quo has not necessarily translated into a boon in retention for U.S. companies, many of which were struggling with escalating attrition long before COVID-19 shook up the workforce. One recent report found that retaining workers remains a top priority for employers, and only 28% of chief human resource officers expect their retention issues to improve anytime soon.
Meanwhile, companies continue to grapple with not only keeping their existing workforce but also attracting talent in the first place. Nearly 90% of small-business owners who are hiring report having few or no qualified applicants for open positions. The hospitality industry, where I worked in learning leadership roles for nearly two decades, has been especially hard hit by the nation’s ongoing labor shortage, struggling both to find workers and retain them.
Savvy employers—including major companies like Amazon, Chobani, and Taziki’s Mediterranean Café—are now taking an innovative approach to filling these roles: They are offering aspiring non-native-English-speaking workers the opportunity to upskill with the English skills they need to thrive in the most in-demand jobs. Here are three reasons why all employers should consider investing in English instruction for their workforce.
Grow the talent pipeline
Immigrants, refugees, and speakers of other languages are fast becoming the new majority of the U.S. workforce. Over the past three decades, immigrants and their children have accounted for 70% of workforce growth. At the same time, nearly 2 million college-educated immigrants and refugees living in the United States are underemployed or unemployed. Language barriers are among the most significant hurdles between these skilled workers and sustainable careers. Nearly 1 in 10 working-age adults have what is considered to be limited English proficiency.
EnGen, a language upskilling platform, estimates that just 4% of adult English-language learners currently have access to the English instruction they need. And I believe that companies should provide workers with opportunities to learn English.
In a tight labor market where employees have a choice in where they work, many are gravitating toward companies that offer on-site training, education, and other benefits that help them advance in their careers. English learners are no different. On-demand English instruction is an especially attractive benefit for new hires. Connecting them with English skills will help them excel in their roles from day one.
For instance, offering online English upskilling has helped employers like Amazon connect with employees from a wide variety of backgrounds, including immigrants and refugees. In 2022, Amazon committed to hiring 5,000 refugees by the end of 2024, and so far the e-commerce giant says that its English-language programs have seen some of the fastest participation growth.
Boost retention and advancement
Research shows that employees greatly value workplaces that provide ample training opportunities. Many workers are looking for ways to advance their careers and are more likely to remain with businesses that help them achieve that goal. In fact, according to LinkedIn employees who have made an internal move at a company are 75% more likely to stay with that company. In this way, many employers are finding that offering workers English-upskilling opportunities—just as they would any other training benefit—pays off.
For example, online upskilling platform Guild works with Fortune 500 companies—including Chipotle, JPMorgan Chase, Macy’s, and the Walt Disney Co.—to provide employees with access to a range of educational opportunities that can help them move into other careers. A Guild survey found that 90% of its language learners feel more confident in themselves and their skills as a result of being enrolled in a language program. In parallel, EnGen’s research has shown that 89% of workers who have access to its platform as a benefit say they are more likely to stay with their company.
Unlock opportunity inside and outside of work
Adults still learning English face many systemic barriers to advancement. Non-English speakers in the U.S. today earn 40% less than workers who already speak the language proficiently. English upskilling improves workers’ ability to communicate, connect, and collaborate, enabling them to take on new roles and responsibilities, advance in their careers, and improve their lives inside and outside of the workplace.
For instance, fast-casual chain Taziki’s Mediterranean Café has provided personalized English-upskilling training to its employees for years. Tailored to fit the specific language needs of working in the restaurant industry, the program has helped open up new career pathways to its workers. Employees who have improved their English-language skills by taking advantage of the benefits have successfully moved from the kitchen to the front of the restaurant and then onto managerial roles.
By providing English-language-upskilling opportunities companies can greatly expand their pool of much-needed talent and boost retention. It’s a strategy that I believe will not only help enrich the skill sets of employees but also have the profound side effect of helping drive economic mobility for millions of workers.
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