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Workforce & Immigration

Strengthen America’s Technology Workforce

One of the key factors driving growth and innovation in the U.S. semiconductor industry and across the broader tech sector is the availability of highly educated professionals – from both the U.S. and abroad – to create jobs and develop new technologies.

Official Comments and Letters >

All Workforce Resources >

 

Featured Immigration & Workforce Resources

The U.S. Semiconductor Industry Workforce
Chipping In: The U.S. Semiconductor Industry Workforce and How Federal Incentives Will Increase Domestic Jobs
Winning the Future: A Blueprint for Sustained U.S. Leadership in Semiconductor Technology

For too long, America’s outdated and ineffective immigration system has been a barrier to innovation, forcing highly educated immigrants to leave the U.S. because they are unable to obtain visas. This system undermines America’s economic strength and global competitiveness by preventing U.S. companies from recruiting and retaining the world’s best innovators. SIA is working to ensure that policymakers in Washington act swiftly to fix this broken system.

Retain the Best and Brightest

Brilliant researchers, scientists and engineers flock to our world-class universities, but once they have their diplomas, U.S. immigration policy makes it almost impossible for these U.S. educated professionals to work, live and become productive citizens in America.

In a world where talent and capital are available globally, this is a significant problem for U.S. high-tech businesses. Foreign nationals represent a large percentage of the science and engineering graduates, especially for advanced degrees in key fields such as electrical engineering and computer science, that will be critical to solving national challenges such as energy, health care, and national security.

It is imperative to our nation’s economic future that we not allow these talented individuals to get lost in our immigration system.

America's Immigration System: A Competitive Disadvantage

Congress has failed to reform the employment-based (EB) green card and H-1B visa systems that U.S. employers use to recruit and retain top worldwide talent.

  • The broken green card system causes employees to spend years in limbo, unable to be promoted or relocated without restarting the process.
  • Over 3,700 H-1B holders in the semiconductor industry seek permanent resident status.
  • The result is that America is less welcoming to the world’s best and brightest at a time when other countries are increasing their efforts to attract these individuals.
Support U.S. Innovation Through High-Skilled Immigration Reform

To move forward we believe it is important for parties with different viewpoints to come together and seek common understanding, which is why the SIA has reached agreement with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers -U.S.A. (IEEE-USA) on permanent, employment-based immigration reform.

We urge Congress to do the same by enacting the following measures:

  • Exempt graduates with advanced STEM degrees from U.S. universities from the EB green card cap to allow U.S. employers to retain foreign-born employees already working in America; and
  • Streamline the path from student to permanent resident to allow U.S. companies to access key talent, particularly individuals educated at U.S. universities.
48%
The U.S. semiconductor industry is the worldwide leader with nearly half of global market share.
2M+
The industry directly employs over 307,000 people in the U.S. and supports more than 1.7 million additional U.S. jobs.
#5
Semiconductors are a top U.S. export after refined oil, crude oil, natural gas, and civilian aircraft.
1/5
The U.S. industry invests about one-fifth of revenue in R&D on average, among the most of any sector.

The Latest in Workforce & Immigration

SIA, TechNet, and ITI joint letter responding to USCIS proposed fee increases

Comments and Letters : 03/13/23

SIA Welcomes Commerce Department Action to Initiate Critical CHIPS Act Incentives

Press Release : 02/28/23

Building the Workforce for a Transitional Tech Economy

Blog : 01/27/23
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