A new report finds that more than 450,000 Massachusetts residents have limited English proficiency.
The Boston Herald reported. The situation represents “another challenge for an economy that continues to lose many taxpayers to other states with lower taxes and costs of living.”
Reports, A study released Wednesday by MassInc and UMass Donahue estimates there are 480,000 limited English proficient residents, or LEP, in the state, making up about 10% of the state’s workforce. The data is based on 2022 Census estimates and may be an undercount.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced that the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home would be converted into a facility for immigrants. (Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Google Maps/Screenshot)
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The report urges state agencies to accommodate the growing number of immigrants who can best contribute to the social and economic vitality of their states. Additionally, the report states that if state agencies were to improve LEP skills by one level, it could generate an additional $3 billion in revenue per year for local economies.
The influx of immigrants has therefore created an urgent need to expand access to “English Language Education for Non-Native Speakers” (ESOL) services.
Migrant Alex St. Louis removes clothes from his suitcase after setting up makeshift beds for his family at Boston Logan Airport on May 23. (Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
According to the report, “Nearly two decades later, additional investments to increase access to ESOL are more important than ever. Although Massachusetts has developed a number of creative models to provide these services, state and federal ESOL spending has not kept pace with the growth of its foreign-born population.”
This report: Governor Maura Healey New restrictions went into effect Tuesday, requiring Massachusetts families to be prioritized for services.
The restrictions come amid a growing influx of migrants that is straining the state’s homeless shelter system.
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The report comes after Gov. Maura Healey announced new restrictions Tuesday to prioritize Massachusetts families for services. (Photographer: Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Over the past year, my administration has taken important steps to make the system more sustainable and help families move out of shelters and into stable housing, but more reform is needed as Congress continues to fail to address immigration reform,” Gov. Healey said in a statement.
Governor Healey announced last month that he was sending administration officials to the Texas border, citing “record” numbers of migrants arriving in Boston.
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Officials will work with federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations and migrant families to “raise awareness about the shelter shortage in Massachusetts.”
Many Democratic-run states and cities are struggling to keep up with the growing number of migrants, and several mayors have called on the Biden administration to provide more federal funding and speed up work authorization to help immigrants get jobs faster and reduce their reliance on social services.
Fox News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
