More than 450,000 Massachusetts residents have limited English proficiency, according to a new report.
The Boston Herald reported that the situation represents “another challenge for an economy that continues to lose many taxpayers to other states with lower taxes and costs of living.”
The report, A study released by MassInc and UMass Donahue on Wednesday found that approximately 480,000 residents are limited English proficient (LEP). This represents about 10% of the state’s workforce. The data could be an undercount, considering it is derived from 2022 census estimates.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced that the Chelsea Soldiers' Home will be converted into an immigrant facility. (Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Google Maps/Screenshot)
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The report urges state officials to take into account the growing number of immigrants who could “contribute their full potential to the social and economic vitality of the state.” In addition, the report says that if state officials were to increase the skills of students with limited English proficiency by one level, they could generate $3 billion in additional annual revenue for local economies.
Therefore, due to the influx of migrants, there is an urgent need to expand access to “English for Speakers of Other Languages” (ESOL) services.
Alex St. Louis, a migrant, pulls clothes from his suitcase after setting up a makeshift bed for his family at Boston's Logan Airport on May 23. (Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
According to the report, “Nearly two decades later, it is more important than ever to make additional investments to increase access to ESOL. While Massachusetts has developed many creative models to provide these services, state and federal spending on ESOL has not kept pace with the growth of our foreign-born population.”
The report comes after Governor Maura Healey announced New restrictions were put in place Tuesday stating that Massachusetts families must be given priority to receive services.
The restrictions come amid a growing influx of immigrants that is straining the state's homeless shelter system.
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The report comes after Gov. Maura Healey announced new restrictions Tuesday that require prioritizing services to Massachusetts families. (Photographer: Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Our administration has taken significant steps over the past year to make the system more sustainable and help families leave shelter to seek stable housing. But with Congress still failing to act on immigration reform, we need to make more changes,” Governor Healey said in a statement.
Healey announced last month that he had sent members of his administration to the Texas border, citing “record” numbers of migrants arriving in Boston.
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Officials will establish connections with federal agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and migrant families “to educate them about the lack of shelter availability in Massachusetts.”
Many states and cities run by Democrats have struggled to cope with the number of migrants they are receiving. Several mayors have urged the Biden administration to provide more federal funding, as well as expedited work permits to help migrants find jobs more quickly and rely less on social services.
Fox News' Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
