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 strong academic institutions, workforce development resources, and training certifications.
(according to the America Society for Engineering Education)
(According to the American Society for Engineering Education)
Puerto Rico’s education system is aimed to provide talent with specialized training, specifically in STEM. The island is home to over one hundred accredited universities and colleges with courses and study programs available in a wide range of fields. Many of these institutions are nationally renowned for their high concentrations of technical degree programs and for awarding STEM majors.
Explore Puerto Rico’s academic and talent competencies. Explore insights into the local labor force’s technical skills, bilingual capabilities, and competitive wage rates. From Bayamón and Caguas to Guayama, this playbook explores Puerto Rico’s rich educational landscape, highlighting the specialties of local area universities and colleges alongside detailed occupational and wage statistics.
(Jan 2019- Jan 2024)
(Feb 2024)
(Feb 2024)
(May 2023 $65.5K U.S.)
The Workforce Development Program at the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) is a federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program from the United States Government that supports job applicants and displaced workers. This program also gives young people access to meaningful employment, education, training, and support services. WIOA operations offer a variety of employment opportunities and take place in 16 career centers across the island. In 2023, Puerto Rico received:
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.
Eligible entities can also access up to $10,000,000 in congressionally administered Community Development Block Grant Disaster Resilience (CDBG-DR) funds to support existing job training programs. For more information about these funds and who can access them, check out the Puerto Rico Department of Housing’s page.
In addition to workforce support, workforce training programs, and university assets, Puerto Rico is also home to an extensive network of research centers. These applied research centers provide space for academic talent to address real-world challenges and access grants to further their training.
Our Workforce Compass program serves as your gateway to understanding and leveraging Puerto Rico’s extensive talent and academic assets, ensuring that your business is supported by the right team. Workforce Compass provides you with a detailed overview of the local labor market, access to a database of skilled professionals, and insights into the academic institutions that are shaping the next generation of talent in Puerto Rico.
Whether you’re an existing business looking to expand or a new investor on the island, these resources help you make the most of the Puerto Rico workforce ecosystem. Embrace the opportunity to transform your talent strategy and boost economic growth.
Nearly five million Puerto Ricans live on the U.S. mainland, many of whom are eager to return to the island and boost recovery efforts through economic growth. Together with other key stakeholders on the island, Invest Puerto Rico is working on initiatives to harness the potential of these individuals and further economic development.
One of our partners, ConPRmetidos, launched El Comeback, a nonprofit initiative to collect the resumes of skilled workers on the mainland and connect them with companies in Puerto Rico after the devastation of hurricanes Maria and Irma. 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.
Learn more about how Invest Puerto Rico collaborates with entrepreneurs and innovators and transform your business in Puerto Rico.