H-1B Visas and the STEM Shortage: A Research Brief

Abstract

The Senate introduced a landmark comprehensive immigration reform bill last month that has the potential to both increase the number of available H-1B visas for skilled foreigners working in specialty occupations and shift the U.S. employment-based visa system to a more merit-based scheme that favors science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workers. As the Congressional process moves forward, debate continues over the role of immigrants in the U.S. labor market. Focusing on demand-side arguments, businesses say they cannot find the skills they need from the domestic labor pool and need access to a global pool of skilled workers. On the other hand, some analysts have argued that there are plenty of U.S. native-born workers who can do these jobs. Such positions fit into a broader literature analyzing whether or not there is a sufficient supply of STEM workers to meet employer demands and foster innovation. This article examines new and rarely-used metrics on the supply and demand for STEM occupations in an effort to inform public policy and better understand the market for STEM workers and H-1B visas.

Keywords: STEM, H-1B, technology, immigration, skills