Amazon applied for nearly 3,900 H-1B visas in 2024, highlighting the critical role foreign-born talent plays in the U.S. technology sector. Most of the 25 companies making the most H-1B requests this year are technology firms, underscoring the industry's reliance on international expertise. As the demand for skilled workers rises, foreign-born employees currently make up a significant portion of the U.S. STEM workforce, with 43 percent of doctoral degree holders and nearly 60 percent in fields like computer science hailing from abroad. However, America's attractiveness to highly educated workers has waned, dropping from first to eighth place globally between 2019 and 2023.
The pathway for skilled foreign nationals to work in the U.S. has faced challenges in recent years. The denial rate for H-1B visas reached a peak of 24 percent in fiscal year 2018. This spike can be attributed to policies during the Trump administration, which courts later deemed unlawful. By fiscal year 2022, the denial rate had decreased significantly to just 2 percent. High denial rates have tangible effects; cities with elevated H-1B rejection rates saw declines in computer-related jobs and lower wage growth for native-born citizens.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a burgeoning need for STEM professionals, with over one million additional workers required by 2033 compared to 2023. The current pipeline of domestic talent is insufficient to bridge these employment gaps, necessitating a continued influx of foreign-born professionals. The significance of this talent pool is further evidenced by the fact that in 2022, more than half of U.S. start-ups valued over $1 billion had at least one immigrant founder.
Notably, immigrants have made substantial contributions to scientific advancements in the U.S. Over the past two decades, they have accounted for 40 percent of American Nobel Prize winners in chemistry, medicine, and physics. The H-1B visa serves as a crucial entry point for skilled foreign-born scientists and engineers into the U.S. high-tech industry. Furthermore, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) emphasize that international students are vital to maintaining current research levels in U.S. graduate programs.
Despite challenges, the U.S. remains a favored destination for foreign-born students and professionals. However, maintaining this status quo is uncertain amidst evolving global dynamics and domestic policy shifts. The implications of these trends stretch beyond mere numbers; they bear on the very innovation and competitiveness that have historically set the U.S. apart on the global stage.
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