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 San Jose’s most important asset is its people. The city represents a concentration of some of the most talented people in the world. More than 35% of the workforce has a bachelor’s degree or higher, including recent graduates from the areas outstanding academic institutions including Stanford University, San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, University of California Santa Cruz, University of California Berkeley, and more than 30 community colleges and training providers. San Jose’s workforce development organization, work2future, collaborates with businesses, residents, government, educational and community-based organizations to maximize local and regional employment opportunities, and serves as the catalyst in the development and implementation of a comprehensive workforce strategy. Combined these resources support the diverse needs of a world-class workforce that fosters economic growth throughout the region.
38 percent of the city’s population is foreign-born. San Jose is tied with Los Angeles and second only to Miami in foreign population. However the diversity of San Jose’s immigrant population is far broader than any other major city. Residents overwhelmingly feel that all are welcome in San Jose from the languages we speak (50% of residents speak 2 or more languages) to festivals the community enjoys (including San Jose International Mariachi Festival ,San Jose Taiko, Vietnamese Tet Festival, and many more.) Few cities have more successfully assimilated such a broad range of diverse cultures; San Jose ranks number one in the nation in the integration of immigrant populations based on where people live. Among 64 San Jose technology companies receiving venture capital in 2006, a minimum of 65 percent had at least one, and typically more than one, foreign-born executive on the management team. More than half of all Silicon Valley science and engineering workers are foreign-born In the year 2000, companies led by Indian and Chinese engineering executives accounted for more than $19.5 billion in sales and 72,839 jobs, accounting for nearly 16% of the 2000 employment base. San Jose has made significant investment in the creation of the internationally recognized global business incubator, the US Market Access Center, to facilitate international collaboration among foreign and local businesses, associations, governments and academic institutions. San Jose’s culture and artistic ventures reflect the international makeup of its residents, embracing resident’s roots and diverse cultural ties through art, dance, music and entertainment options to introduce and reconnect people to cultures. |
Nanci Klein
Chris Burton