A new report finds one in 10 adults working in the United States is not proficient in English. New Orleans ranks above the midway point on a list of 89 of the most populous metro areas.
The Brookings Institution says the economy is suffering because over 19 million adult workers aren’t comfortable with English.
Report author Jill Wilson says even when people come to the United States with some higher education, they still won’t earn as much money as those fluent in English. Their children will also struggle. Lower wages mean lower tax revenue and consumer spending.
In New Orleans, almost 40,000 workers between 16 and 64 are not proficient in English — placing 55th on the national ranking. Almost 70 percent of those workers speak Spanish, and most work in construction, accommodation and food services.
Wilson says cuts in adult education have resulted in businesses offering English classes at work sites, which can be tailored to specific industry needs. And she says individuals can get help online.
“Many people who don’t speak English have a mobile phone, whether it’s a smart phone and there are apps for learning English, or even if it’s just a basic cell phone," she said. "There are programs by which people can dial into a number, get an English lesson over the phone, be able to text their answers in, and then receive tailored instruction based on their responses.”
The report finds those with limited English proficiency in the New Orleans metro area, which includes Metairie and Kenner, has grown 21 percent since 2000.
