According to the Migration Policy Institute, immigrants in the U.S. have the potential to address upcoming labor shortages. This need will be greatest in fields demanding higher education and specialized skills. However, many immigrants will require retraining or upskilling. 

As of 2023, only 62% of U.S. adults possessed some form of postsecondary education, ranging from some college attendance to an associate degree or higher. However, by 2031 due to the increasing prominence of artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing, 72% of all U.S. jobs will require postsecondary education per MPI. 

According to MPI’s report, certain second-generation immigrant groups, including Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Black, and White adults, surpassed this benchmark in 2023, with 75% attaining postsecondary education. However, when examining immigrants across generations, the figures dip, with less than 60% of Latinos and approximately 62% of Black immigrants obtaining postsecondary education 

While immigrants present a promising solution to future U.S. labor demands, lawmakers must deal with obstacles specific to immigrants’ access to postsecondary education. For instance, many immigrants possess skills and degrees obtained abroad that aren’t acknowledged in the U.S. Additionally, some lack a pathway to permanent residency, such as those under temporary protected status or participants in the DACA program.  

It has been decades since Congress has made any significant reforms to the nation’s immigration system. Further, there has been a record number of migrant encounters at the southern border that has consumed much of the Biden administration’s focus. 

Despite initiatives in some states like Maine, which, faced with an aging population, are increasingly relying on immigrants to address labor shortages, there has been minimal attention at the federal level in this regard.

As always, our team of attorneys continues to monitor updates to U.S. immigration policy. We work with our clients to ensure they get the right advice based on their individual situations. Please reach out to us, if you have any U.S. immigrations related questions.  

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