“The LMIS team was thorough, methodical, attentive, and responsive to emerging needs throughout the collaboration.” – Dina Jaffary, Director of Workforce Programs at ACT

ACT engaged LMIS to research African immigrants’ NYC-based workforce experience and most promising local career opportunities. The findings were integrated with survey data gathered from ACT’s constituents to design a workforce-development intervention that would be accessible, pay a living wage, offer opportunities for career growth, and honor the community’s cultural values and norms.

LMIS began the research with a foundational analysis of labor market data to determine the demographics and workforce engagement of NYC-based African immigrants. We then collaborated with ACT to identify five key guiding research questions. Blending findings from three government labor market data sets, employer demand data, and survey data, LMIS recommended 11 Healthcare and Social Assistance occupations for NYC-based African immigrants with less than a four-year degree, and three Community & Social Services occupations for those with a bachelor’s degree or additional post-secondary credentials.

While the research was conducted to guide programmatic planning for a workforce training program, the findings were also of interest to policymakers given the research’s unique focus and novel insights. LMIS and ACT were invited to present the findings at an invitation-only, international symposium on African sustainable development organized by the New York chapter of The Economic Club of Africa.