Suchergebnisse

The immigration policy of the United States has admitted generous numbers of skilled migrants. There was a steady increase from the 1950s and then notable growth following the acts of 1965 and 1990, including a substantial increase in the 1990s. Today, the foreign born make up one quarter of the workforce in the life and physical sciences, one fifth of information technology, and one sixth of the engineering workforce. Yet, many observers are concerned that the United States restricts the number of skilled immigrants, although it admits roughly 70,000 skilled primary workers yearly on permanent visas and roughly 300,000 on so-called temporary visas. Recent legislation addresses the concerns over numbers, however poorly framed those concerns are in reality, but it is arguable that the concern over numbers is misleading and there should be more focus on improving the admission process to efficiently admit the best foreign workers.

AbstractWe examine the earnings of highly‐skilled foreign, temporary workers and how changes in visa system affect their earnings. We use the National Science Foundation's 2003 National Survey of College Graduates and find that foreign students and temporary workers earn less than natives and permanent immigrant workers on average. Changes in visa status increase earnings, but initial visa status conditions later earnings growth along visa pathways. This implies that migrant workers ability to achieve steady, rather than discontinuous, earnings growth requires policies that make their visa portable, that it permits them to readily change employers. An admission system that favours fully‐portable permanent visas may improve worker productivity. The findings also indicate that the selectivity of foreign S&E students is not as great as that of new workers admitted from abroad; another argument against 'stapling' permanent visa status to foreign graduate degrees.Policy Implications
Visa requirements do not ensure that temporary students and workers earn the same as similar natives during their initial period of stay. Over time this may depress occupational earnings.
There is a need to reform and enforce visa regulations. Visa portability that permits ready changes in employment should better migrant earnings. Permanent admission may be preferred.
Temporary foreign students experience slow earnings growth, while temporary workers hired from abroad outperform foreign graduates. The assumption that foreign graduates are the best qualified appears incorrect and facilitating ("stapling") a green card to their diploma a poor idea.