Unlocking Promise of High Skilled Immigrants to Bolster the U.S. Economy

· 4 min read
Unlocking Promise of High Skilled Immigrants to Bolster the U.S. Economy


Although high-skilled legal foreign workers can be vital to a robust and healthy economy, the outdated U.S. immigration system produces substantial impediments to keeping them, regularly dissuading competent people who were trained and educated in the U.S. from being employed here long-term. A latest BPC-Morning Consult poll demonstrated that numerous Americans favor attempts to preserve high-skilled migrant workers, and deem they have a favorable influence on the American economy. Analyses has indicated that qualified immigrant laborers spur creativity, generate work opportunities, and address vital workforce gaps. In addition, chronic workforce deficits, a result of an elderly American population, coupled with declining birthrates, necessitate forward-thinking answers to maintain an sufficient provision of employees to cover high-demand skilled posts. Policy measures targeting preserving ongoing immigrant workers and bringing in greater numbers of highly proficient migrant workers would ensure the U.S. has the employee base to maintain market position.



Importance of and necessity for highly skilled migrants

Qualified foreign professionals can have a crucial position in furthering attempts to sustain cutting-edge inquiries by expanding the quantity of skilled workers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) domains that are in pressing requirement of skilled professionals. According to designations established by the Standard Occupational Classification Policy Committee, STEM professionals consist of IT and math jobs, engineering professionals and technicians in engineering, biologists, physical science professionals, social scientists, scientific techs, and STEM administrators. The work of qualified migrant workers supports the tasks undertaken by their local counterparts. Examples of complementary jobs are office staff and financial professionals; and health and personal care aids and medical practitioners. Research has revealed that the work done by qualified foreign workers, notably in the STEM industry, increases economic expansion per capita and raises aggregate salaries for staff.

In the meantime, U.S. Census Bureau information suggests that the American system of education does not yield enough STEM specialists, further highlighting the necessity for boosting and maintaining qualified foreign professionals. In particular, three in four bachelor's degree holders with a STEM diploma find employment outside the STEM domains after completing their studies. Nevertheless, of foreign students attending U.S. universities, nearly half are enrolled in STEM-related programs and greater than one-third of all doctorates in STEM disciplines are students from abroad. While some graduates will go back home upon completion of their program, many of these students hope to stay for good and join the job market.

Hurdles to admission and maintenance

Nevertheless, highly-skilled foreign students face considerable hurdles in coming to and staying in the U.S. due to complex visa processes, lengthy wait times, and scarce availability of visas. H-1B visas are the primary visa route for employees with at least a bachelor’s degree. For those fortunate enough to obtain one of the coveted 85,000 visas granted by raffle to employers each year, transitioning from H-1B visa status to green card status can take several years and a permanent residency card is not promised. The system is not only challenging for immigrants but hinders the recruitment efforts for U.S. businesses when new hires are contingent upon securing a permanent residency card within a limited window. To enhance their likelihood of securing H-1B work permits for international hires, some companies have attempted to exploit the system by entering applicants into the draw multiple times. Others have merely started moving their operations to China. According to a current survey, 71% of U.S. employers are transferring highly skilled newcomers who were incapable to obtain approval to work in the U.S. to countries like China. Adjustments to the H-1B work permit procedure could decrease delays and increase access to H-1B work permits to facilitate U.S. employers’ ability to keep talented foreign workers.

While the legislative body is in a 20-year deadlock over wide-ranging visa policy changes, the most of United States electorate understand the value of talented international workers. However, the current procedure’s inadequacies have complicated matters for international skilled individuals to enter and stay in the U.S., particularly high-skilled overseas students after finishing school, limiting the expansion of United States’ skilled labor supply.

BPC's recent report on employment-based immigration reforms recommends a few modifications that could gain cross-party. These adjustments consist of: simplifying avenues for temporary to permanent status, boosting the quantity of permanent resident cards available, and making more efficient immigration procedures and rendering them easier to understand, all of which might facilitate for drawing students from abroad and professionals for employment in the U.S.. The creation of a permanent independent commission on labor market trends could allow the visa framework to become more timely and more precisely mirror the present labor requirements of the market. Additionally, lawmakers might consider the advantages of establishing additional specialized visa types to meet skill shortages in various industries.

In conclusion

Persistent employment deficits and decreasing birth rates have resulted in the U.S. in dire need of qualified workers. Immigrants present an alternative pool of talent to fill these gaps. Present shortcomings inside the immigration framework hinder the United States’ ability to retain talent in crucial industries, limiting the growth of the supply of skilled workers. Addressing current barriers to high-skilled immigrants will secure a strong and lasting employment base that promotes the economic strength and the nation's overall competitiveness.
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