30 Minutes of Excellence-October

Leveraging English Instruction to Build Workforce Pipelines

Workforce leaders are facing growing staffing shortages, employer demand for skilled workers, and an imperative to open career pathways to future-ready jobs. There’s an innovative solution that can meet the moment—and it’s hiding in plain sight.

As 1 in 10 working-age adults in the U.S. have limited English skills, English upskilling is an untapped tool for expanding access to quality jobs and addressing critical skills and staffing shortages. When integrated into career pathways and aligned with industry credentials, digital literacy, and employer needs, English instruction becomes more than a language solution—it becomes a game-changer for workforce development.

In this session, we’ll explore how cross-sector partnerships—connecting employers, workforce boards, community college & educational partners, and state government agencies—are using industry-aligned English learning to:

• Boost employee retention, productivity, and advancement
• Align with WIOA, apprenticeship programs and local priorities while diversifying funding streams
• Build scalable models that strengthen regional talent pipelines and economies

Join Katie Brown, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Educational Officer of EnGen, for this dynamic and informative session. You’ll leave with real-world case studies and actionable tools to bring this strategy home—whether you’re just getting started or looking to level up existing programs. If you’re ready to connect with untapped talent pools in a high-impact way, this session is for you.

CWDP Competency 2