The Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that the U.S. will need one million more Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workers between 2020-2030. The immigrant workforce is needed to fill many of these roles.

The White House announced a series of policy changes earlier this year in an attempt to recruit more immigrants for these roles. These changes aim to connect the American institutions looking for STEM employees with students and professionals in those fields around the world.

The American Immigration Council released five STEM guides including frequently asked questions about how different groups can participate in these policy changes.

  • The first initiative covered by these guides is an Early Career STEM Research Initiative, which connects US companies looking to host nonimmigrant exchange visitors with program sponsors.
  • Other initiatives include the addition of new fields of study in the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.
  • A suggested update to the O-1 visa category policy manual regarding eligibility is noted.
  • Updating the national interest waivers (NIWs) for different categories of people experienced in STEM, and
  • Extending training for J-1 exchange visitors in STEM fields.

The American Immigration Council also released a fact sheet with data about foreign-born STEM workers in the United States and their contribution to our economy. This sheet states that immigrants made up 23.1% of STEM workers in the US in 2019, and the raw quantity of immigrant STEM workers in 2019 doubled since 2000. Almost 20% more immigrant STEM workers hold a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to US-born STEM workers, and nearly half of immigrant STEM workers in 2019 held an advanced degree.

The inclusion of a STEM professional immigrant workforce in U.S. institutions has been shown to increase productivity and innovation, creating even more jobs down the line. The White House STEM initiatives should be embraced by more U.S. institutions and employers to strengthen our workforce, economy, and innovation.

If you have questions about international STEM workers or any other immigration-related issue, contact us at ILBSG. We actively monitor trends to ensure our clients get the right advice for the specific situation.

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