As thousands of Puerto Ricans escaping an economic crisis on the island move to Florida each year, many professionals are encountering difficulties finding jobs in their chosen fields.
Residents of the U.S. territory have been U.S. citizens for a century now, and should have a built-in advantage as Americans when they move to the mainland.
But these young professionals blame the need and cost of getting new certifications, an unfamiliarity with how the job market on the mainland works and language barriers, among other reasons.
Puerto Rico’s Instituto de Estadisticas says managers and professional workers made up the largest category of people moving from the island in 2015. Since then, the island’s 3.4 million people have endured multi-million dollar debt defaults, soaring foreclosures, a crumbling pension system, states of emergency at government agencies, deep cuts in education and an unemployment rate of 12 percent, nearly triple the U.S. mainland rate.
And while Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rossello hopes to persuade Congress to make the U.S. territory the 51st state, which could ease job market hurdles for citizens, the referendum is unlikely under Republican control, since Puerto Ricans tend to favor Democrats.
Currently, several Florida firms offer orientation sessions to new arrivals on how to adapt to life and workplace norms in the Sunshine State.