SRJC Career News Flash - Hopes for engineering and computer science job prospects dim

--> A report from the Center of Immigration,  titled, H1-B Visa Numbers, No Relationship to Economic Needs,  suggests  that the corporate practice of insourcing has severely crippled the  demand for American engineers and computer scientists   The study also suggests that not only has the practice resulted in a greatly reduced number

Virtual Science Reporter, Debra Reporta, filed

this report from the SRJC chemistry laboratory 

of job openings for computer scientists and engineers, but could very well reach the point were there are not any available engineering  and computer science jobs for Americans in the United States. 

Putting the damper on even further is that the Center of Immigration studies implies  that many of the foreign technology workers are now here on expired work visas.This suggest that many foreign workers are competing for the remaining available high technology work in America. 

The report will most likely be used in the upcoming immigration debate in the United States congress.  Factions of the  high technology community wants to increase the number of visas permitted, claiming that there is indeed a shortage of highly skilled workers. On the other hand, others are arguing that the market is so saturated with foreign technology workers that any further increase will completely eliminate American engineers and computer scientists from the job market, let alone undermine any incentive for young Americans to enter these fields. 

Report Conclusion Highlights, 

"There is no cause and effect relationship between H-1B visas and job creation. Adding H-1B visas does not create additional jobs for U.S. workers.

Since 1999, the United States has approved enough H-1B visas for computer workers to fill 87 percent of net computer job growth over that period.

Since 1999, the United States has had a net loss of 76,000 engineering jobs. Over the same time period, the United States has approved an average of 16,000 new H-1B visas each year for engineers.

If current employment trends continue and the H-1B quota remains unchanged, the United States will approve enough H-1B visas for computer workers to fill about 79 percent of the computer jobs it creates each year.

Pending legislation would increase the number of H-1B visas for computer workers to above the number of computer jobs created each year.

The data suggest that a large percentage of those who legally enter United States on H-1B visas go into the illegal alien pool."

SOURCE: CENTER OF IMMIGRATION STUDIES http://www.cis.org/H1bVisaNumbers