Global Competitiveness
The United States has long been the destination for the world’s most talented immigrants. Despite the last 50 years of technological advancement, American immigration policy has remained virtually unchanged, putting in danger America's global competitiveness. Yesterday's immigration policy no longer meets today’s economic needs. Only about 14 percent of all U.S. green cards are given for economic reasons, compared to more than 60 percent in Canada and Australia. With no dedicated visa for entrepreneurs and numerous barriers to residency in place for international students to stay after graduation, America's outdated immigration policy could allow other countries to out-compete us by attracting and keeping the best and brightest there and not here.
Help Wanted: West Michigan employers grapple with shrinking labor pool, skills gap
Put a group of local executives together to talk about their hiring needs and it probably won’t be long before the phrases start to fly. “Talent gap.” “Skills gap.” “Talent drought.” While the words they use may vary, local employers are nearly universal in calling it a “problem” that could… Read More
Immigration changes must aim to retain best, brightest
The history of America is rich in stories of immigrants coming with nothing but a small suitcase of clothes and a dream of a better tomorrow. Odds are good that there is a story like this in your family heritage. Although we may not always notice, immigrants play a key… Read More
Peter French, guest columnist: From a high-tech perspective, survival depends on smart immigration reform now
Technology industry leaders and entrepreneurs from across the globe flocked to Austin recently for the 2015 SXSW Interactive Festival. SXSW Interactive serves as an incubator of tech and digital creativity and innovation. Sharing new ideas is a cornerstone of the festival, but the idea that should demand the most attention… Read More
We lose the longer we wait to reform work visas
April can be the make or break month for U.S. corporations that goes beyond tax time. It is when businesses file H-1B petitions in hopes to win the coveted visa lottery that allows foreign-born workers to fill job vacancies here. U.S. businesses that win this nationwide lottery, designed strictly… Read More
Rush for H-1B visas is on
Applicants for H-1B visas — those that allow foreign workers with at least a bachelor’s degree to temporarily work at specialty jobs in the US — are facing fierce competition this year. “There is a 60 percent increase in cases we receive this year compared with last year,” Los Angeles-based… Read More
HIGH-SKILLED IMMIGRANTS IN DELAWARE
Learn more about the need for high-skilled immigration reform at www.LetPJStay.com DELAWARE FACES A LARGE STEM SHORTAGE There are more STEM job openings than unemployed STEM workers: From 2009 to 2011, 3.8 STEM job openings were posted online in Delaware for every 1 unemployed STEM worker in the… Read More
How U.S. immigration laws push American startups out of America
All it took was a few days in New York City for P.J. Cobut to fall in love with America. For a kid growing up in a sleepy, rural town in Belgium, the Big Apple’s frenetic bustle was intoxicating. He loved it. All he wanted was to go back, this… Read More
Nathan Bomey: Visa policy threatens Michigan economy
In a post-industrial, global economy, the most vital asset for companies is talent. So it’s remarkable that U.S. immigration policy forces tens of thousands of high-skilled foreign workers to leave this country every year, effectively handing an incredible advantage to foreign competitors. Lest you think this is simply a Silicon… Read More
HIGH-SKILLED IMMIGRANTS IN COLORADO
Learn more about the need for high-skilled immigration reform at www.LetPJStay.com COLORADO FACES A LARGE STEM SHORTAGE There are more STEM job openings than unemployed STEM workers: From 2009 to 2011, 1.5 STEM job openings were posted online in Colorado for every 1 unemployed STEM worker in… Read More
Brazilian Innovator & UC Boulder Grad Faces Immigration Hurdles While Building Career in U.S.
Pedro Sorrentino had been working with tech startups in his native São Paulo, Brazil when he decided he wanted to move to the United States and pursue an education and a career change. “I wanted to move here because America was built on immigrants,” he says. But despite our history,… Read More
Impending Labor Challenges
The United States is facing demographic challenges that endanger its preeminent economic position in the world. An aging workforce threatens the vitality of the labor force. At the same time, the supply of U.S.-trained engineers is lagging behind nearly all other industrialized economies. At a time when tech-heavy and innovation driven industries are driving economic growth, the United States faces the prospect of being left behind.
Table 1: Share of Population Age 65+, 1996, 2006, 2016 and projected 2030
Table 2: Share of Undergrads Studying Engineering
Prioritizing Economic Needs
Many countries have identified the link between immigration and economic growth. For many, such moves are a matter of necessity–the domestic labor force is not sufficient for an expanding economy, and aging populations and declining fertility rates are creating labor shortages. Despite facing some of the same challenges, U.S. immigration policy has not changed to reflect our economy’s evolving needs.
Table 3: Percentage of All Permanent Residency Visas Given for Economic Reasons*
Need for a Start-Up Visa
Countries around the world, from France, to Chile, to Singapore have created visas aimed at attracting promising entrepreneurs and job creators. Despite concerns about meager job creation and business growth, however, the United States has not taken a similar step, endangering our position in the global race for talent. This situation was made worse in 2017 when the administration took the first steps to kill the International Entrepreneur Rule, a measure that would have allowed entrepreneurs with outside funding to remain in the country for 2.5 years to establish their businesses.
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