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and numerous barriers to residency in place for international students to stay after graduation, America's outdated immigration policy could allow other countries to out-compete us by attracting and keeping the best and brightest there and not here.
Scramble is on for coveted work visas
When Gaurav Patel was looking to hire an engineer for his medical device startup in Houston this year, he searched for an American citizen because the tiny company didn’t have the budget to sponsor a foreigner for a work visa. But though he cast a wide net, 80 percent of… Read More
Op-ed: Here’s what president can do to move nation forward
Today, President Obama will deliver a speech on the economy during his first visit to Utah as president. While his speech reportedly will focus on our differences, I believe we need to get beyond partisanship and find common ground. Here are several issues where we can work together to… Read More
Fellow conservatives, immigration reform is good policy and good politics: As I See It
Conservative politicians are at a critical point on the issue of immigration reform. Fixing our broken immigration system is one of the most significant challenges currently facing Congress and the White House. Obama’s trampling of the Constitution and his attempt to rule by decree, disgusting though it is, should not… Read More
H-1B VISA LIMIT SHOWS URGENT NEED FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM
When it comes to America’s high-skilled immigration system, demand for talent far exceeds supply. That unfortunate fact will be reinforced this week as the U.S. government begins accepting applications from employers for H-1B visas for highly educated workers who are needed to fill open jobs in the U.S. Since U.S. Read More
Ad Campaign and Research Highlight Need for High-Skilled Immigration Reform
CONTACTS Ryan Williams, Partnership for a New American Economy, [email protected] Emily Pochter, FWD.us, [email protected] New data shows that high-skilled immigrants from 2010 to 2013 alone will create more than 700,000 American jobs Watch the ad here New York,… Read More
The H-1B Employment Effect
The Partnership for a New American Economy’s new research brief, “The H-1B Employment Effect,” shows that high-skilled immigrants create jobs for U.S.-born workers in states across the country. Key findings include: By 2020, 700,000 American jobs will be created by the high-skilled foreign workers awarded H-1B visas between 2010 and… Read More
Demand again expected to far outstrip supply of visas for highly skilled workers
SALT LAKE CITY — Wednesday was Day 1 of the application window for 85,000 visas for highly skilled workers, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Serviceswas already talking about resorting to a lottery. “If USCIS receives an excess of petitions during the first five… Read More
How immigration reform would affect small businesses
Immigration reform has long been a divisive issue, as politicians, advocacy groups, and pundits fight over whether Congress should grant legal status to the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. But there’s at least one group that has for the most part reliably remained in favor of… Read More
Not Passing Immigration Reform is Madness
From colleges to companies, immigrants are a critical part of the team when it comes to competing globally. But America’s broken immigration system is leaving a substantial amount of opportunity on the sidelines. Congress has a chance to score a big win for the nation’s economy. Fixing the… Read More
Increase H-1B visas as part of the DHS appropriations bill
Although funding for the Department of Homeland Security has been settled (with Republicans once again learning the folly of taking a hopeless position) the need for bipartisan solutions to immigration reform remains. A good first step would be for the new Republican majorities in Congress to pass a bill expanding… 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.
