Why Progress on Immigration Might Soften Labor Pains
Almost one-third of Americans consider immigration the most important “problem” that the United States faces, according to a new Gallup poll. And yet, companies say they need far more workers than the current system allows.
Some business leaders say that visa restrictions remain too tight on visas for skilled and unskilled labor. Either way, immigration will be a critical issue during the US election season. The carefully negotiated bipartisan bill that failed in the House of Representatives earlier this year highlights the thorny climate surrounding this complex system.
The immigration system to the United States is very complex. We have many people coming at many different skill levels for differing durations of stay. We seek to achieve diverse national goals (employment needs, family reunification, humanitarian) with different types of visas. And many people move across skills or visa categories during their stay.
Employment-based migration focuses on providing workers with specific skills to firms that need them. Most applicants hold a bachelor's degree or higher and there are minimum salaries that must be met for positions.
