St. Louis Mosaic Project Highlights Global Talent as a Workforce, Economic Growth Strategy
Second annual International Hiring Challenge offers employers one practical entry point into a broader international talent pipeline
The St. Louis Mosaic Project (Mosaic) is calling greater attention to the role of global talent in strengthening the St. Louis region’s workforce, competitiveness and long-term economic growth, while launching the second year of its International Hiring Challenge as one practical way for employers to begin engaging that talent pipeline.
As employers across the region face ongoing workforce shortages and increased competition for skilled workers, Mosaic is encouraging a broader view of the workforce, one that includes internationally educated professionals, multilingual workers, and international students already living and contributing in the St. Louis region.
“Global talent is not a niche workforce issue — it is an economic growth strategy,” said Suzanne Sierra, executive director of the St. Louis Mosaic Project. “If St. Louis wants to compete, we must think expansively about talent. That means recognizing the value of immigrants, international professionals and students already in our region, and making it easier for employers to engage them as part of a stronger, more future-ready workforce.”
The announcement coincides with the launch of the second annual St. Louis International Hiring Challenge, which gives companies a simple, low-barrier way to connect with work-authorized professionals and international students in STEM-related fields for paid internships, project-based roles and limited-term assignments. In its first year, 10 companies participated, hiring 12 interns.
Mosaic says the larger goal is to help employers better understand and access the full spectrum of global talent available to the region. Mosaic’s work is grounded in the belief that St. Louis’ economic future depends on its ability to attract, retain and integrate talent from around the world at all skill levels and career stages. The region’s foreign-born growth hit an all-time high between 2022-2023 with a 23% increase while the region continued to age and lose its native-born population. The latest U.S. Census data shows that the region’s overall modest population gain came from the international population.
“International students are one part of the broader global talent pipeline, and for many employers, they are an especially accessible place to start,” Sierra said. “They are already here, already contributing to our institutions, and in these cases are already authorized to work. That helps employers build familiarity and confidence while also opening the door to a much broader conversation about talent, competitiveness and growth.”
Noelle Reinhold, chief marketing officer at AEG, added, “The International Hiring Challenge gives companies a practical way to begin engaging global talent. As a St. Louis-based staffing company, we see how expanding access to international talent helps close hiring gaps in the market for specialized roles, delivering immediate impact while also bringing new perspectives.”
In addition to AEG, Nidec, ZPods and Trivers have signed on to the Challenge with several others expressing interest.
Employers interested in participating in the 2026 International Hiring Challenge should submit a job description, including pay rate and contact information to Sierra at [email protected].