Talent

Education That Fuels Growth

Puerto Rico develops its talented workforce through a rigorous STEM-oriented education system that produces top-notch technical, engineering, and bioscience professionals. Plus, our talent pool is supported by workforce development resources and strong academic centers.

80+
accredited universities and colleges
20.5K
STEM degrees in 2021
#1
in higher education across the Caribbean
CONNECT WITH US

Leader In STEM Graduates

50%
of university graduates hold a STEM degree

(outpacing the STEM graduation rate of the next U.S. state by 6x)

6th
highest availability of scientists and engineers in the world

(according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report)

2nd
in Latin America and the Caribbean for digital skills amongst the population

(According to Ducker Frontier Latin America)

Academic Assets

Workforce Playbook

A deep dive into Puerto Rico’s academic and talent competencies, including insights into the local labor force’s technical skills, bilingual capabilities, and competitive wage rates. This playbook also explores the rich educational landscape, highlighting the specialties of Puerto Rican universities and colleges, alongside detailed occupational and wage statistics.
Playbook
Download pdf

Building a World-Class Workforce

Economy & Workforce

16.5%
Job Growth

(2017- 2022)

6%
Unemployment Rate

(April 2023)

1,125M
Jobs

(April  2023)

$32.3K
Annual Mean Wages

(April 2023 $61.9K U.S.)

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are about 22,000 direct jobs in tech-related fields. Puerto Rico specializes in:

  • Industrial Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Computer Operators
  • Programmers


Workforce Support

The Workforce Development Program at the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) is a federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program that supports job applicants and displaced workers. It also gives young people access to meaningful employment, education, training, and support services. WIOA operations take place in 16 career centers across the island. In 2020, Puerto Rico received:

  • $29.7 million to support adult activities
  • $28.6 million for youth activities
  • $76.2 million for displaced worker activities
  • $6.4 million for the Employment Service (Wagner-Peyser Act)

Eligible entities can participate in developing a strong workforce and access up to $40,000,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support existing job training programs. The WIOA State Unified Plan for 2020-2023 offers a comprehensive view of Puerto Rico’s workforce development strategies.

Tapping Into the Diaspora

Nearly five million Puerto Ricans live on the U.S. mainland, many of which are eager to return to the island. Together with other key stakeholders on the island, Invest Puerto Rico is working on initiatives to harness the potential of these individuals. One of our partners, ConPRmetidos, launched El Comeback, an initiative to collect the resumes of skilled workers on the mainland and connect them with companies in Puerto Rico. Thus far, ConPRmetidos has identified nearly 30,000 individuals. This means that your company can benefit from a talent pool that grows every day.

To assist with bringing talent to Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico’s Incentives Code (aka Act 60) also confers credits to employers looking to attract difficult-to-recruit talent to the island. Read about Act 60 to learn more.

Ready to Invest?

Collaborate with Entrepreneurs & Innovators and Transform your Business in Puerto Rico.

CONNECT WITH US