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Does the Tech Industry Really Need So Many Workers on H-1B Visas?
As debate rages over President-elect Trump’s stance on H-1B visas, experts are questioning whether these visas truly address a nationwide shortage of talented engineers. Critics argue that many H-1B workers are being hired for roles that do not require specialized skills or expertise.
According to Ronil Hira, an associate political science professor at Howard University and research associate with the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, many H-1B workers are actually being hired for simpler tasks like product testing. These jobs do not meet the visa program’s intended goal of outsourcing roles that require unique skills.
Furthermore, evidence suggests that the H-1B program has little impact on employment in the U.S. A study by the IZA Institute of Labor Economics found that companies receiving H-1B visas are not displacing American workers. In fact, many companies experience growing revenue and eventually hire additional workers as a result of hiring foreign-born workers.
Some economists, including Hira, argue that claims about a shortage of talented engineers in the tech industry are unfounded. If there were indeed a shortage, wages for these roles would rise due to the limited supply of skilled workers. However, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that median weekly earnings in computer and mathematics roles have remained stagnant over the past three years.
Additionally, large tech companies like Big Tech have been laying off hundreds of employees while continuing to sponsor new H-1B visas. This has led some experts to question whether these layoffs are simply a way for companies to maintain their labor supply without having to pay higher wages to attract American workers.
As the debate around H-1B visas continues, it is clear that more clarity and transparency are needed about how this program benefits American workers.
Source: www.cbsnews.com
