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Title: Does the tech industry really need so many workers on H-1B visas?
The debate surrounding H-1B visas has been ongoing for years, with some arguing that these visas are essential to filling skills gaps in the US job market. However, a closer examination of the data reveals that this claim is not entirely accurate.
One thing that’s clear is that many H-1B workers are being hired into roles that don’t necessarily require unique skills, such as product testing. This raises questions about whether these visas are truly necessary to fill positions that would be difficult to fill with domestic workers.
Furthermore, the evidence on the broader impact of H-1B visas on employment in the US is mixed at best. While some studies suggest that hiring foreign workers can create jobs for American-born workers by allowing companies to expand and grow, others have found no significant link between H-1B visa usage and job creation.
In fact, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that wages in the tech industry have remained relatively stable over the past few years. This contradicts claims of a nationwide shortage of talented engineers driving demand for foreign workers.
Additionally, there is evidence to suggest that some companies are actually laying off more employees than they’re hiring with H-1B visas. In 2022 and early 2023, the top 30 H-1B visa sponsors laid off at least 85,000 workers while hiring only around 34,000 new H-1B workers.
This is not to say that all H-1B holders are being hired into low-skilled roles or that they’re somehow displacing American workers. However, it’s clear that the program has not had the transformative impact on the job market that proponents claim.
As we move forward in this debate, it’s essential to consider these findings and the data-driven reality of the H-1B visa program.
Source: www.cbsnews.com
