Economic Allies: Demonstrating the Value of International Students to the American Workforce and Innovation

On April 1, 2025, IDP hosted its third-annual Think-tank event, “Economic Allies: Demonstrating the Value of International Students to the American Workforce and Innovation,” in Washington, D.C. Building on the momentum of previous years and strategically aligning with NAFSA’s 2025 Advocacy Day, the event created a forum for critical conversations on how attracting and retaining global talent can bolster America's competitive edge.

The need for higher education to collaborate more closely with businesses and employers emerged as a key point during the 2023 and 2024 Think-tank events. Post-graduate employment opportunities are a primary driver for international students, as evidenced by IDP data. And, amid an unstable global policy environment and heightened competition, there is an urgent need to align international education efforts with broader economic imperatives such as the U.S. labor shortage. All of these factors coalesced into the 2025 theme: Economic Allies.

The event focused on using the economic and workforce contributions of international students as a foundation for building bipartisan support to defend and strengthen international education policies. Through presentations, moderated panels, and open discussions, key stakeholders explored the role of international students in filling critical labor market gaps. Several key themes emerged:

• Impactful advocacy at a critical moment

• Making the case for international education: strategic messaging for broader audiences

• Aligning higher education outcomes with workforce needs

• Workforce readiness for international talent: challenges and opportunities of employment pathways

• Spillover effects of skilled immigration to the U.S.

• Breaking the global policy cycle: lessons learned from competitor destinations

Download the Stakeholder Summary for a full analysis of key themes and commitments from IDP.