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The report presents the findings from a review of existing research to address topics identified in the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act,1 Pub. L. No. 117-210, enacted in October 2022. The Act asks the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to conduct a study about lawfully present immigrants and refugees admitted to the United States during the 5-year period prior to the law (October 2017–October 2022). The study’s target population under the Act, who are identified as New Americans, is lawfully present immigrants and refugees with occupational and professional credentials and academic degrees obtained outside the United States. In keeping with this request, and to better understand the labor market dynamics of a growing segment of the U.S. workforce, the DOL’s Chief Evaluation Office, in collaboration with the Employment and Training Administration, initiated a study to identify New Americans’ employment patterns and the factors and strategies that might help ease their transition into employment that uses their existing skills and knowledge.

The Westat Insight study team conducted a targeted literature review and engaged with subject matter experts to identify relevant studies, programs, and data sources on this population. The study team also developed (1) a data catalog by evaluating and documenting data sources identified in the studies and (2) a program catalog by conducting a review of public and private programs that help New Americans secure employment in the United States.

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Research Questions

• Overall prevalence: What is the size or national distribution (by State) of New Americans as of 2017 or after?
• Home-country training: What types of professional credentials (such as postsecondary educational degrees, occupational certifications, and licenses) do New Americans hold before immigrating to the United States?
• U.S. training: What types of professional credentials do New Americans obtain after immigrating to the United States?
• Employment patterns: What types of employment do New Americans have before and after they immigrate to the United States?
• Employment barriers: What barriers may prevent New Americans from using professional credentials obtained outside the United States to secure skill-appropriate or other employment in the United States?
• Employment support: What promising strategies or approaches have been developed to help New Americans secure skill-appropriate employment in the United States?

Key Takeaways

• The number of immigrants with at least a college degree obtained outside the United States was estimated to be approximately 7 million, based on 2019 ACS data (Batalova & Fix, 2021). In 2021, an estimated 13.6 million (34%) of the United States’ 40.2 million immigrants held at least a college degree (Ward & Batalova, 2023).
• Based on the 2019 ACS, 24% of immigrants who obtained college degrees outside the United States accepted a job that did not require a college degree or were unemployed, in contrast with 16% of U.S.-born individuals and 17% of U.S.-educated immigrants (Batalova & Fix, 2021).
• 29% of foreign-born workers with at least a college degree held occupational licenses compared with 50% of U.S.-born workers with the same education level (Boesch et al., 2022).
• Recredentialing or relicensing for New Americans who received their credentials outside the United States is complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Common barriers cited in the literature included limited English proficiency, lack of recognition from licensing boards or postsecondary institutions for credentials and experience obtained outside the United States, problems navigating licensing systems, and lack of sufficient support to complete requirements, such as financial assistance or English language learning support (Friedman, 2018; Liebert & Rissler, 2021; Special Commission on Foreign-Trained Medical Professionals, 2022; WES [World Education Services], 2022).
• Governors from various states have signed executive orders to remove barriers that prevent New Americans from gaining skill-appropriate work (Morse & Chanda, 2023; NCSL [National Conference of State Legislatures], 2020; Sanz & Francis, 2021; WES, 2022). Nonprofit organizations, state initiatives, and community colleges have implemented strategies and approaches intended to integrate New Americans into the U.S. workforce (Casner-Lotto, 2011; Harrington et al., 2020; McHugh & Morawski, 2017; Special Commission on Foreign-Trained Medical Professionals, 2022; Upwardly Global, 2023).

Citation

Korkmaz, G., Hyra, A., Wright, D., Nguyen, J., DiBello, M., Muz, B. (2024). Westat Insight. Bridging the Gap for New Americans Final Report. Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor.

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The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy and CEO’s research development process.