imagine ZERO ESOL waitlists…

Alvaro Limadirector of Research, Boston Redevelopment Authority

Boston Redevelopment AuthorityJohn F. Palmieri, Director

City of BostonThomas M. Menino, Mayor

All or partial use of the data found within this report must be cited. All or partial use of the data found within this report must be cited. Our preferred citation is as follows: Our preferred citation is as follows: Boston Redevelopment Authority/Research Division, July 2008.Boston Redevelopment Authority/Research Division, July 2008.

presentation at the civic forum, titled, “Investing in the Massachusetts Workforce”, Citizens Bank, 53 State Street, Boston, MA, July 10, 2008

right now-

15,000 immigrants are on ESOL waitlists in the

Commonwealth for anywhere from 6 months to 3 years

Source: Department of Education (DOE), 2008; “The ESL Logjam,” National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials

Metro

Boston’s

f

orei

gn-

born

workf

orce

i

ncreased

by

al

most

94,

000

(32

%)

bet

ween

2000

and

2006

…

Source: 2006 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis

Source: 2006 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis

In 2006 the number of Metro Boston’s workforce with limited English

language skills was nearly 88,000 - an increase of 37% over 2000…

now imagine -

ZERO

ESOL waitlists

Key Characteristics of Occupations by Language Skill Requirements – All Industries

Proportion of Total Jobs

Average Salary

Language Skill Levels

19% 30% 34% 17%

$25,043 $71,117$53,680$33,145

Low Medium-Low Medium-High High

If these 88,000 workers were to move up one level…

Note: Metro-Boston 2004

Source: Labor Market Assessment Tool, Boston Redevelopment Authority, Research Division, Analysis

it would look something like

this…. direct and indirect income increases by $732 million

increased spending creates 1,134 new jobs

GRP increases by $108 million

$9 million more in federal, state and local revenues

keeping the

status quo is not sustainable…

more than 10 million skilled workers will be leaving the workforce by 2010

the Baby Boom generation just hit 62 and is filing for Social Security benefits

The ratio of seniors to prime-working-age adults is expected to grow from 240 to 411 per 1,000

immigrants will be expected to fill this growing gap in the labor market

… and 93% of new jobs created in the region will require at least modest language skills

Source: 2004 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Source: Labor Market Assessment Tool, Boston Redevelopment Authority Research Division Analysis.

Language Skill Low Medium-Low Medium-High High

Wages-Current Jobs

$25,043 $33,145 $53,680 $71,117

Wages-New Jobs

$17,998 $29,079 $57,930 $74,109

… that is, employment

growth is much smaller in

occupations requiring low

and medium-low language skills

so, … additional investment in ESOL

would raise productivity boost GRP

raise HH incomesand increase

government revenues