“Each and every U.S. citizen is ultimately descended from someone who took the risk to walk over a land bridge, run across a desert, swim, sail or fly here. The country has been and continues to be built by immigrants” (Bradt, 2017). In the United States, over time, generations of differing cultures, nationalities, and ethnicities have blended together to form one. So, why does it remain a challenge for newcomers to do just that- assimilate into American society? Through my work at the Trinity Jubilee Center of Lewiston, Maine, I have gotten a small glimpse at the sacrifices recent newcomers have made in search of a better life in America. Though immigrants only represent a small percentage of Maine’s population, they are vital to the state’s future. As a result of my time in the Refugee Integration Program at Trinity Jubilee, and with the support of several scholarly articles, it has become evident that refugees and immigrants do not have the same employment opportunities as natives, despite having extensive skills. There are several valid strategies that can be implemented to create better access to jobs and better working conditions, for all.
The Trinity Jubilee Center offers a wide range of support to individuals with differing needs. The Refugee Integration Program is a drop-in service which provides guidance to migrants from countries including Somalia, Djibouti, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I have helped individuals in filling out and accessing several different applications, but the most common request is for guidance in writing a resume, searching for job openings, and completing job applications. While Trinity is the face of many social policy issues and has its own needs for sufficient funding, resources, and translators, I have learned that the largest issue comes down to getting immigrants employed. The search for employment is not an easy process and few systems are in place to help new Mainers join the workforce.
Before addressing the barriers to employment and making suggestions for change, I first must ask, what can immigrants do for Maine? This is a simple question that has not been explored enough; immigrants can benefit Maine’s economy in a number of ways. Unlike other parts of the world, Maine’s biggest employment problem is not that there are too many individuals without work, but that there are not enough workers to match labor demands. This issue is expected to increase; the state has the oldest median age in the nation and was one of just two states where deaths outnumbered births between in 2014 and 2015 (Levitz, 2016). To keep Maine’s economy afloat, the most substantial solution would be to welcome newcomers and to help them to become members of the U.S. labor force.
The United States Census Bureau shows Maine immigrants to be, on average, younger and better educated than U.S. born citizens. Of those who arrived in Maine between 2010 and 2013, the median age was 27, and an estimated 65 percent had some college-level training (Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 2017). In comparison to native-born citizens, immigrants are more than twice as likely to start a business; in 2011, immigrants started 28 percent of all new businesses (Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 2017). Newcomers can aid in growing the economy through business creation, replacement of the states retiring workforce, and by filling job opportunities in Maine’s growing workforce gap. Lastly, as Maine’s image as the “whitest state” lessens and becomes increasingly more diverse, the state will become increasingly more attractive. Diversity can breed more opportunities for business with the rest of the country and the world (Andemariam, 2007).
Despite a high demand for new workers in Maine, most African immigrants and refugees, compared with those of European and Asian descent, are perceived to have below-standard literacy abilities and to be poorly educated, with little English language capability (Andermariam, 2007). Refugees and asylum-seekers come to America to escape war and find peace, but such widespread misconceptions about African immigrants seems to create common hindrances in job opportunities, creating more hardship. It is a challenge for many skilled individuals to find appropriate jobs compatible with their educational skills.
The first, and probably one of the largest barriers for new Mainers is English language ability. Communication is the primary basis for all human interaction. Most immigrants have, at least, some proficient knowledge of the English language, however, many newcomers still struggle with fluency. How can one get a job without being able to read English advertisements for job openings? How can one get a job without being able to read directions on an application? How can one get a job without being able to properly write English responses? How can one get a job without being able to have a clear and equitable conversation with a potential employer? These are all valid, and very real, difficulties that new immigrants face each day. Even if applicants are given aid in the application process, English reading, writing, and speaking skills are required in many job industries.
While there is some leeway for jobs in service, manufacturing, and construction industries, aside from basic safety reasons, there is less language flexibility in highly skilled job fields. Research suggests that higher level employers may be hesitant to hire individuals with unfamiliar accents or less language English language proficiency. Based on statistical evidence, employers may be concerned that language barriers could make it difficult for an individual to be understood by customers or that they may not readily understand modern business communication, which could impact business revenues (Andermariam, 2007).
With the discussion of highly skilled laborers, comes a question of work history and credentials. Another major barrier for newcomers is a lack of recognition for foreign credentials and degrees. The ultimate catch for immigrants is that the education, skills, or experiences that came from their native country, are often not valid enough for U.S. education systems or employers. Even when credentials may be up to par with U.S. expectations, it is often found to be too difficult of a process and too expensive to research and verify such documents (Koenig, 2016). Well-educated African immigrants, unlike skilled migrants from other regions, are generally expected to receive additional training despite their appropriate qualifications. The lack of quality of education within African nations is a common bias among many U.S. employers (Andermariam, 2007).
During my experience at Trinity Jubilee, I helped a woman from Angola who had trained as a nurse for 4 years and worked in a hospital for another 5. In Maine, her education and credentials were not enough, so she sought after a low-paying, in-home, caregiver job. In another immigration story, a foreign truck driver was required to spend a year living in Maine and take a five-week course, costing $6,000, before he could attempt to find a similar job in the U.S. (Koenig, 2016). Another individual had 10 years of experience and a degree as a fitness instructor in his native country but would need a year’s worth of American education to continue that job Maine (Koenig, 2016).
On top of the issue of verifying credentials, individuals then struggle to gain legitimate job experience without having any form of work history or qualifications from within the U.S. Employers look for individuals with connections and involvement within local businesses, with that comes solid references and confidence within the workforce. There are also cultural differences among U.S. and foreign employment processes; immigrants and refugees who grew up in cultures that placed high values on humility struggle to sell themselves to American hiring managers (Koenig, 2016). There are few organized systems that help immigrants gain some experience or encourage volunteer work before applying to work (Abdelkerim, 2012).
There are several barriers in relation to personal support needs among immigrants and refugees, as well. A major factor includes transportation. Many individuals find themselves limited to jobs within walking distance or public bus route. Public transportation can be difficult to navigate, especially for those with minimal English skills, and is often unreliable. “People fleeing from oppressive governments or humanitarian crises are often moving with just the clothes on their back. They certainly aren’t bringing cars and trucks with them” (Koenig, 2016). For those who are already struggling with financial hardship, as many immigrants are, a personal vehicle is a large investment. Aside from being able to purchase a car, there are difficulties in getting licensed to drive; issues include a lack of English proficiency needed to prepare for a test, the presence of bilingual driving instructors, inexperience driving in Maine winters, and the costs of driving lessons or tests (Abdelkerim, 2012). Without dependable transportation, job prospects become even more limited.
Having good health is crucial to gaining stable employment. It is rare that refugees come into jobs without mental health issues. Social dislocation alone leads to emotional stress, but trauma from previous exposure to violence and war can double problems of physical and mental instability (Abdelkerim, 2012). “Pre-migration stresses such as catastrophic experiences and refugee camp internment and post-migration stresses such as unemployment, underemployment, and discrimination may jeopardize the mental health” (Fenta, Hyman, & Noh, 2004). Without good health and support, getting a job and keeping it can be an extreme challenge.
That leads us to the last major obstacle: the unmistakable issue of discrimination against foreign workers, specifically African immigrants. In many parts of United States, there is a general misconception that migrants take jobs from the locals and become a burden on the social welfare system (Andermariam, 2007). Additionally, there are obvious prejudices among U.S. employers. A foreign-born USM graduate told claimed to have changed his resume after unsuccessfully applying to several internships. Out of curiosity, he changed his name to a more “American-sounding” name. He told researchers that one employer who never responded to his original submission, with all the same content but with a foreign-sounding name, then called him back with interest to hire him (Koenig, 2016). By discouraging immigrant job seekers, employers and the public are complicating a newcomer’s ability to assimilate and settle into American society.
While this was just a summary of some of the employment challenges new immigrants face, it can be concluded that a change needs to occur. The common obstacles identified cover three broad policy areas: social inclusion, employment policies, and immigration policies. Immigrant needs often go unmet because people apply the individualist model to argue that it is a newcomer’s own responsibility to assimilate. “Perhaps the most prevalent way of thinking about social problems begins with the idea that certain individuals fail to take advantage of the opportunities that society makes available” (Brueggemann, 2014). Though there are some programs already in place to encourage and support recent immigrants, there are still a number of gaps in the system. The New Mainer’s project is just one program to explore.
Prior to 2001, there was not a single refugee agency in place in Lewiston; when in 2006, immigrants made up 6.5% of the population. At that time, the growth of the immigrant population showed obvious deficits in public health and job training. The New Mainers Partnership in Lewiston and Portland, Maine and Catholic Charities provides case management services for recent immigrants, without taxpayer dollars. The partnership works with immigrant families to provide education skills, interpretation, and to connect them with health and city services. The program has helped to strengthen ties between city and agency officials and immigrant communities (Nadeau, 2007).
Though immigration policy is federal responsibility, states and cities can have a large impact on the policies that affect immigrants. States, like Maine, can help provide access to resources and jobs. Social inclusion, advocacy, and public awareness are the first steps to welcoming new workers. Employment discrimination is a product of negativity within the media and the little data to track it. The key to policy change is educating the community on why refugees and immigrants are here and what they can do for the state. Policy makers must encourage community development through the creation of better ties between immigrant groups and employers and the regulation of worker rights. By granting better access to the workforce development system and skills-based training, newcomers can gain occupational and social mobility (Cordero-Guzman, 2013).
To improve opportunities for immigrant workers, having better access to adult education programs and community colleges are essential to improving their human capital. Added hours of English classes and a better focus on developing vocational language skills will help to break down employment barriers (Cordero-Guzman, 2013). Next to this, is the need to streamline qualification recognition procedures. The expensive and intricate process of transferring and translating credentials should not be the only deciding factor in whether an individual has the required skills to be hired or not (Abdelkerim, 2012). The U.S. Department of Education should consider ways to simplify the process of qualification recognition, especially in areas where there is a need for skilled-laborers.
A lack of local work experience is one of the most significant challenges. Through the creation of volunteer opportunities, immigrants can gain a valid U.S. work history and familiarity with U.S. employers and businesses. Officials should aid in providing work placement to gain local experience and upgrade their skills by introducing incentives to employers. FECCA stated “if greater support is not given to permanent migrants to find work in their area of expertise our nation suffers from lost productivity and the individual’s experience of migration is diminished” (Abdelkerim, 2012).
To increase Maine’s productivity, it is the state’s responsibility to support individuals in their personal needs, including mental health. As members of our community, it is Maine’s job to provide adequate support and empowerment, especially to those with a history of trauma, through more funding and resources to a greater number of people. Additionally, bilingual counselors are necessary to provide a culturally competent assessment of an individual’s needs. By addressing emotional and family matters, immigrants can better prepare for future employment (Abdelkerim, 2012).
Foreign-born workers have become an important piece of Maine’s workforce and throughout the U.S., but many are trapped by varying errors within the state’s policy systems. By paying more attention to the education and personal development of immigrants, the growth of the immigrant community in Maine’s job market, when supported, can benefit all. On a smaller scale, resource centers like Trinity Jubilee are making an impact for many through support, interpretation, and by making connections within the community.