1) Currently, there are 15,000 immigrants on waitlists for ESOL classes in Massachusetts, waiting anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. 2) In 2006, nearly 88,000 workers in Metro Boston had limited English skills, a 37% increase over 2000. 3) If these 88,000 workers improved their English by one level, it could increase income by $732 million and create over 1,000 new jobs.

1. imagine ZERO ESOL waitlists…
Alvaro Lima
director of Research, Boston Redevelopment Authority
presentation at the civic forum, titled, “Investing in the Massachusetts
Workforce”, Citizens Bank, 53 State Street, Boston, MA, July 10, 2008
All or partial use of the data found within this report must be cited.
Our preferred citation is as follows: City of Boston Boston Redevelopment Authority
Boston Redevelopment Authority/Research Division, July 2008. Thomas M. Menino, Mayor John F. Palmieri, Director

2. right now-
15,000 immigrants
ESOL waitlists
are on 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

3. Source: 2006 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis

4. In 2006 the number of Metro Boston’s
workforce with limited English
language skills was nearly 88,000 - an
increase of 37% over 2000…
Source: 2006 American Community Survey, BRA Research Division Analysis

5. now imagine -
ZERO
ESOL waitlists

6. If these 88,000 workers were to
move up one level…
Key Characteristics of Occupations by Language Skill Requirements – All Industries
Proportion of
Total Jobs
19% 30% 34% 17%
Language
Skill Levels Low Medium-Low Medium-High High
Average $33,145 $53,680 $71,117
$25,043
Salary
Note: Metro-Boston 2004
Source: Labor Market Assessment Tool, Boston Redevelopment Authority, Research Division, Analysis

7. 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

8. keeping the
status quo
is not sustainable…

9. 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)

10. … that is,
employment
growth is much
smaller in
occupations
requiring low
and medium-low
language skills
Language Skill Low Medium-Low Medium-High High
Wages-Current $25,043 $33,145 $53,680 $71,117
Jobs
Wages-New $17,998 $29,079 $57,930 $74,109
Jobs
Source: Labor Market Assessment Tool, Boston Redevelopment Authority Research Division Analysis.

11. so, … additional
investment in ESOL
would raise productivity
boost GRP
raise HH incomes
and increase
government revenues