Growing concern regarding skilled workforce shortages

Recently, there has been a national debate regarding a growing shortage of skilled workforce that is affecting the US market in general, especially certain sectors that are essential to meet the needs and demands of the population and the local economy.

During the last few years, dozens of companies have commented on the difficult situation they have been through due to worker shortages in different industries. Adding to that, this skilled labor shortage has recently been evidenced and exposed thanks to multiple studies, investigations, experts and even the 2020 National Census results.

Let’s look at some important facts:

• The most recent National Census found that between 2010 and 2020, the US had the lowest birth rate and population growth in eight decades. The Census Bureau estimates that one in five American citizens will be of retirement age by 2030, increasing the workforce shortage exponentially.
• The health system is experiencing an abysmal and alarming nursing shortage, which is delaying the country’s ability to overcome the health crisis caused by the global Coronavirus pandemic.
• The senior living industry is not being able to meet the needs of the local population due to lack of senior care professionals.
• A recent study reveals that, even before the global Coronavirus pandemic, the US was already experiencing a substantial skilled labor shortage in important sectors such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM fields).

Immigration as a source of skilled workers

Immigration has always been a source of relief for hundreds of companies and industries that cannot always fill the skilled workforce gaps with local personnel because there are no workers available or they do not qualify to fill the job in question.

In fact, the local immigration system offers multiple employment-based alternatives, which allow local employers to attract talent and the brightest minds from abroad, which is naturally a gigantic international advantage for the US.

Chamber of Commerce proposes filling workforce gaps through immigration

To effectively and timely address the alarming shortage of skilled workforce, the US Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce Foundation launched a project called “America Works” in early June 2021.

This national initiative aims to boost the US economy by addressing qualified workforce shortages through multiple strategies, including immigration. The Chamber of Commerce proposes doubling the annual limit for work visas such as the H-1B and H-2B visas, which are available to highly qualified and seasonal foreign workers respectively. Aside from that, this project also supports comprehensive immigration reform to restructure “America’s broken, outdated immigration system”.

To explain this proposal, the Chamber of Commerce openly states, “Together, we can and we must address our nation’s workforce challenges. When you lead the world in talent, you lead the world in solutions. With a highly skilled workforce, there’s nothing business cannot achieve and nothing we as a nation cannot do”.

Is there something holding you back from starting your immigration process?

We understand that starting an immigration process requires constant dedication and expert help. Our team is highly qualified to guide you through your immigration journey in the US, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.