H-1B workers are better paid, more educated, study finds

[FarCenter]

The report by two economists at the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California, also found that, on average, H-1B workers are about 10 years younger than U.S. born workers.

The report's findings concerning pay indirectly challenge beliefs about the H-1B program held by backers like Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve.

In a recent column in the Financial Times, Greenspan argued that restrictions on the H-1B program protect "many high earners from skilled migrant competitors." He called the H-1B program "a subsidy for the wealthy," meaning well-paid IT workers.

But according to this study, Greenspan conclusion U.S. IT workers are a "privileged elite is wrong." It found that the average annual earnings of H-1B workers are about 10% higher than the average annual earnings of U.S. workers, after adjustments for age, occupation and education.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223947/H_1B_workers_are_better_paid_more_educated_study_finds

[LiberalEsto]

1. This study is ridiculous

It might be true that H1-B workers are well educated. Their educations in their home countries were free, and they are not burdened with staggering college loans to pay off.

American computer science students need to earn not just a living, but enough to pay off their student loans. If Americans could get free college educations, maybe we'd be more competitive in the world.

I've heard of H1-B workers living in company-supplied dormitories so they can avoid American housing costs and save money to bring back to their own countries.

But what would be the purpose of US companies' bringing in workers from overseas, if not for cheaper labor?

[FarCenter]

2. It can be more educated and more intelligent labor

The populations of India and China are each about 4 times that of the US.

In India, the top student compete ferociously to get slots in the Indian Institutes of Technology, so anyone who gains admission is extremely bright. The BS from most of the IITs is well respected, but it is only the ticket to go to the US for grad school. 2 to 5 years later the student has a MS or PhD and looks for practical training on an F-1 visa. Typically the intent is to change to H1-B and then get a green card, rather than go back, although this is less true for Chinese.

So the quality of H1-B holder is really very good due to the heavy screening process and their need to get graduate degrees in order to migrate and stay in the US.

Some of the Indian "body shops" bring Indian employees into the US on L-1 visas. These folks are not as good and they often are poorly paid and living in the dormitory arrangements. Sometimes this is to train the employees on US systems that will be supported from India, but sometimes it is simply for additional staff.

[girl gone mad]

3. I've watched hours of lectures from IIT courses.

I'm sorry, but from what I've seen, the level of teaching and the quality of the program is unimpressive. I'm sure it's quite competitive to gain entrance simply due to India's immense population and the lack of viable alternatives, but my high school son would breeze through their upper level coursework. That is, if he could keep from falling asleep. This school is seriously overrated.