GD post: Tech companies seek to increase cap on visas for foreign-born skilled workers

[pinboy3niner]

I don't know much about this subject, and I'm interested in the views of labor activists here. Is the description of shortages in the ability of American labor to fill high-skilled jobs accurate? Should the caps on these visas for foreign labor be raised?

Here's the thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8857953

[Skittles]

1. there's no shortage of skill in America

there's an abundance, however, of treasonous corporate executives willing to pimp off American jobs to line their own pockets

[fasttense]

2. And yet I know people with Ph.D.s who are serving fries.

Yeah, just what America needs more workers who can't find jobs.
With one job for every 5 unemployed persons, we want to import more labor. There is a serious disconnect here.

"foreign nationals comprised 43.9 percent of the master's and 54.6 percent of the Ph.D.s awarded in engineering by U.S. universities."

Average American citizens can't afford to attend American colleges, that's why there are so many openings for foreign nationals. (Most colleges and Universities in America limit the number of openings for foreign nationals, but those openings have been increasing ever since Raygun started charging tuition for all California colleges)

In most foreign countries, college tuition is free, so these foreign citizens get their bachelors and spend their money on masters and Ph.D.s.

And all American citizens get are crappy high school educations that prepare them for nothing in the job market and barely educate them for college....unless....you are born rich.

[exboyfil]

5. At least in our state most

Masters/Doctoral level Engineering and Science students are under assistantships which means, except for the lost opportunity cost, the education is free. Since an engineer can make $60K/yr coming out of college (this is still happening at my employer), it makes it very difficult for our universities to staff the RA/TA positions with primarily U.S. citizens.

On the other hand I had a bitter experience when I went back to get my Masters degree in Engineering in 1992. I worked for a year trying to obtain assistantship money, but I was unable. I really resented the large number of foreign born TA/RAs with such assistantships when I did arrive on campus. I honestly felt, since the engineering department which I was run was dominated by foreign born, that I was being discrimiated against being a U.S. citizen. The school assigned no value to my seven years of work experience which I believe made me a much better prospect for an assistantship. Also the fact that I paid alot of state taxes for seven years should have been considered as well.

I finished my MS with high grades, but my resentment has lessened over time.

Also almost all engineers working for large companies can get their M.S. paid for by their employer while they are working full-time. That is how I completed my MBA and my additional M.S./PhD work.

[droidamus2]

3. Its a bunch of crap!!!

Number one they always use the 'highly skilled' idea to make people believe it is only the very top jobs they are bringing these people in to fill. The are using the H1Bs to fill all levels of technical jobs. I have a degree in computer science (1987) and 15+ years experience programming. The 15+ years is in older technology as I have been out of the business for 6+ years. I have done my best to bring my job skills up to the level where I can take a job and get up to speed in a reasonable amount of time. I have been looking for work for 2+ years but I have a number of things going against me. I will soon be 56 years old and the IT business seems to have a thing about hiring older workers (sure if you have been a very high producer in the past you would probably have a better chance at an older age). I would probably still require spending a little money on additional training (but you have to learn the system you are working on anyway). The killer is they can get the government to allow them to bring in more workers from overseas so they don't need to even consider me and people like me. I suspect the H1B workers because of the way the system works are also seen as much less demanding as they require the job to stay in the country. The cost of bringing H1B workers into this country should be no less and maybe more than it takes to hire and train American workers.

[pinboy3niner]

4. Thankyou very much for your response, droidamus2

The claims they make for this SOUND reasonable, but I can't help being skeptical--especially when we have so many Americans unemployed.

They claim they can't find enough ENGINEERS in the U.S.? My impression is that we're LOADED with engineers.

This subject is new to me, but with the help of you, and others like you, I hope to learn more and cut through the CoC BS.

I really sympathize with your situation, and hope you'll find better days ahead. I know that's not much to offer, but it is sincere.

Love & Peace,
pinboy3niner