Clay Martin, founder of Isla Talent, shared how his journey from the Peace Corps to entrepreneurship led him to an unconventional workforce solution: recruiting U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico for mainland employers.

Whether you’re struggling to fill machine operator positions, assembly roles, packaging jobs, or general production labor, recruiting workers from Puerto Rico may provide a workforce solution that many manufacturers overlook.

In 2026, retention is one of the biggest challenges employers face. Job hopping has become normalized, and loyalty is often assumed to be outdated. Puerto Rican professionals challenge that assumption. When they feel respected, included, and given room to grow, they tend to stay longer.