Employment-Based immigration policies are opening positions faster than people can fill them. Per the U.S. Department of Labor, there is a direct connection between the labor shortage and employment-based immigration policy. The decrease of foreign workers poses a threat to multiple sectors of the U.S. economy.
In a recent study, the Department of Labor found that:
- The participation rate for American born workers in the labor force declined from 62.1% to 61.8% in last twelve months.
- The participation rate of foreign workers in the U.S. dropped from 67.0% to 66.3% during the same time frame.
There simply isn’t much interest among U.S. citizens to fill positions usually managed by foreign-born workers.
The decline in available foreign-born workers is already having a negative effect on some sectors of the economy. The healthcare industry is seeing the largest impact. Hospitals are struggling to find nurses, nurse aides, environmental services workers and other critical healthcare staff.
Research conducted by The Economist found that wage growth in occupations with high proportions of foreign workers, such as janitors and construction workers, is slowing down. This means there isn’t enough competition among U.S. citizens to fill these occupations. The downturn coincides with the start of stricter immigration enforcement measures.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical.