Chief Patron: Tran
Improving Participation of Refugees in Virginia's Workforce (language only)

Item 52 #5h

Language

Page 47, after line 28, insert:

"G. The Office of the Chief Workforce Advisor shall convene a workgroup that includes representatives from the Departments of Education, Social Services, Professional and Occupational Regulation, Health Professions; the Health Workforce Development Authority; Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; the Virginia Community College System; Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Catholic Charities; Migration and Refugee Services; International Rescue Committee; Church World Services; Lutheran Social Services; Ethiopian Development Council; NoVA Friends of Refugees; ReEstablish Richmond; local one-stop career centers that have experience serving refugees; an employer; and at least one refugee or special immigrant visa holder. The workgroup shall identify barriers that recent refugees in Virginia face to entering the workforce; assess participation in adult education and workforce training programs; compare, to the extent practicable, the current employment of recent refugees to that of their employment, including any occupational and professional credentials and academic degrees earned, prior to resettling in the United States; and identify the top occupations that recent refugees seek to work in in Virginia and make recommendations for addressing any barriers that prevent them from using their work experience gained outside of the United States to obtaining employment in these occupations in Virginia."