Pennsylvania is launching a six-month pilot program to recruit more than a thousand bilingual workers to the state’s workforce. The pilot program will focus on recruiting workers to help connect residents to employment services and unemployment compensation benefits and services.
A relationship between the Commonwealth and Service Employees International Union Local 668 will allow roughly 1,100 employees—who speak and can write in Spanish—to be eligible for an additional $1 per hour, equaling roughly $1,000 over the six-month pilot.
“There should be no wrong door for Pennsylvanians who want to contact state government and access the information and services they deserve,” Governor Josh Shapiro said in a release. “Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians speak a language other than English—I want them to be able to reach out to their state government and receive efficient, effective service just the same as anyone else.”
To qualify for the pay incentive, workers must meet minimum requirements established by the Department of Labor and Industry for verbal and/or written Spanish proficiency.
“We want to make sure that Pennsylvanians can access services from the Commonwealth that meet them where they are in language and accessibility,” said Office of Administration Secretary Neil Weaver. “The pilot will allow us to explore potential incentives to increase the number of bilingual employees in positions with high demand for this skill.”
Whyy PBS (4/15/25) By Cory Sharber