Addressing The Labor Shortage In STEM Fields

December 4, 2012

POLITICO

The Partnership for a New American Economy — a Bloomberg-headed, bipartisan coalition making the economic case for immigration reform — is out today with a new report arguing against the notion that foreign-born STEM workers take American jobs or undercut U.S. salaries. “The data show both that many sectors of the U.S. economy are facing a shortage of STEM talent and that foreign-born STEM workers currently in the workforce are complementing, not displacing, their U.S. counterparts,” the report says.

To address the shortage, the U.S. has to improve STEM education at home — but that will take years, the report says. “Meanwhile, there are talented and accomplished STEM graduates from U.S. universities who are blocked from contributing to the U.S. economy by current immigration law. To spur innovation, meet labor force needs and help the economy grow, Congress should reform immigration laws to recruit and retain more foreign-born STEM workers trained in U.S. universities.” The report was done in collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Information Technology Industry Council.

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