Foreign-Born Talent
Foreign-born individuals are key drivers of population in our region and in most major cities. According to data provided by the New American Economy (NAE), the total population in Greater Des Moines (DSM) increased by 12%, from 545,643 to 611,291 people. During this same period, the foreign-born population grew 25.1%, from 38,970 to 48,760 people. Foreign-born residents contributed $3.2 billion to the metro’s GDP and $100 million in state and local taxes in 2014.
According to studies and data from the National Skills Coalition, Iowa continues to struggle to find skilled workers to meet the needs of employers.
According to a report from the Migration Policy Institute, the United States has long been the top destination for the world's best and brightest. However, it has fallen short when it comes to fully tapping the skills and training of these newcomers. As a result, nearly 2 million immigrants with college degrees in the United States — one out of every four — are relegated to low-skilled jobs or are unable to find work. This skill underutilization — often referred to as brain waste — comes at a significant cost to families and the U.S. economy: College-educated immigrants employed in low-skilled work miss out on more than $39 billion in wages. And as a result, federal, state, and local governments lose out on more than $10 billion in unrealized tax receipts, according to this study, which offers the first-ever estimates of the economic costs of brain waste.
Furthermore, every year, approximately 5,000 international students attend colleges and universities in DSM. Upon graduation, less than 5 percent of those enter into the workforce in DSM. Almost one third of international students are enrolled in STEM degrees, an area of talent high in demand for Iowa employers.
This large pool of untapped talent among foreign-born that could be a valuable source of talent for Iowa employers.
To shed light on this important group of talent, provide support to foreign-born individuals and connect them with Iowa employers, The Partnership launched Global DSM; International Talent Initiative.
Learn more about the International Talent Strategy.
What The Partnership Provides to Foreign-Born Talent
To learn more on the following services provided by The Partnership, contact Sanjita Pradhan at spradhan@DSMpartnership.com.
- Navigating Employment — The Partnership’s team can offer support and guidance to help learn workplace culture and provide a variety of learning and networking opportunities with DSM employers.
- Transferring Skill Sets — Guidance is available regarding the transferability of foreign degree licensure, credentialing and work experience.
- Entrepreneurial and Business Connections — With a vast network of business and community contacts, as well as well-versed startup and entrepreneurial initiatives, The Partnership is a great resource to help get entrepreneurial ideas or business startups off the ground.
- Trailing Spouse Job Assistance — The Partnership is able to help spouses find job placements within the community as well.
- Community Tours for Relocating Families — For families new to the region, community tours are available by request.
- Relocation Assistance — The Partnership can provide you and your family in-depth information to help you prepare to relocate here, or help you further connect to the community and resources after relocating.
- Find Jobs and Internships — The Partnership’s DSM USA Career Center is a resource for candidates to search and apply for career opportunities. Search and apply for jobs and internships, and post your resume for employers to contact you directly!
- Welcome to DSM USA Receptions — Attend a Welcome to DSM USA reception to meet other new residents of DSM. Find more info on The Partnership’s events page.
- Service to Employers:
- Connecting employers with high-skilled talent.
- Helping employers understand foreign credentials and credentialing.
- Providing access to a large pool of high-skilled, trained talent with global experience.
- More understanding and training around hiring bias and helping all individuals unlock their human potential.
- National Resources on Foreign-Born Talent
Other Community Organizations Providing Workforce Services
Central Iowa Works — A workforce intermediary, convening partners to build solutions that help businesses, families and our community thrive. Programs connect employers with talented workers in jobs that provide career growth and financial stability.
Central Iowa Health Works — A program of Central Iowa Works that provides training opportunities for foreign-born individuals to pursue healthcare careers.
Project Iowa — Providing career guidance, trainings and mentoring opportunities.
Goodwill of Central Iowa Career Connections Center — Providing free job readiness services to anyone who is unemployed or underemployed.
DMACC — A primary source of learning for English as a Second Language (ESL), career-readiness classes and many other learning opportunities to prepare individuals to thrive in the workforce.
Iowa Workforce Development
Other Multicultural Resources
Iowa International Center — The goal of the Iowa International Center is to build cultural respect at home and around the world, one person at a time. The center works to provide access to educational and cultural resources to foreign-born talent in an effort to enhance Iowa’s inclusivity and retain professionals.
Welcome to Iowa – Multilingual Resources Center – The Welcome to Iowa website is a resource for new Iowans and non-English speakers to aid in the transition to Iowa. Make connections and find links for an array of resources, including food, housing, law and legal matters, transportation and more.
Local Events
Diversity in DSM is celebrated through many annual festivals and events, including:
- CelebrAsian, held annually in May, celebrates Asian culture in DSM.
- The Greek Food Fair, held annually in June, celebrates home-style Greek favorites.
- The Latino Heritage Festival, held annually in September, builds awareness on the Latin culture in DSM.
- World Food & Music Festival, held annually in September, celebrates cuisine and entertainment from around the world.
- I’ll Make Me A World in Iowa, held annually in February, celebrates Iowa’s African American arts, culture and contributions.
- Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit, held annually in November, showcases successes of local immigrant entrepreneurs and serves as an opportunity for networking and sharing of entrepreneurial best practices.