Help wanted: Employer demand for less-skilled temporary foreign worker visas in an era of declining unauthorized immigration
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2020
Abstract
Employer demand for less-skilled foreign workers admitted on temporary worker visas has increased considerably in recent years. Issuances of H-2A visas for agricultural workers and J-1 visas for exchange visitors have soared, and the cap for H-2B visas for nonagricultural workers is reached well before the end of the issuance period. This article examines the rise in employer demand for these programs, focusing on the roles of improved economic conditions, tougher immigration enforcement, and the drop in the number of less-skilled workers, including unauthorized immigrants. Economic conditions appear to be the most important determinant of employer demand. The upward trend in employer usage of the programs suggests that they can be a viable alternative to hiring unauthorized workers, and even more so if restructured appropriately.
Publication Title
RSF
Volume
6
Issue
3
First Page
45
Last Page
67
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.7758/RSF.2020.6.3.03
ISSN
23778253
E-ISSN
23778261
Citation Information
Orrenius, P.M., Zavodny, M. (2020) Help Wanted: Employer Demand for Less-skilled Temporary Foreign Worker Visas in an Era of Declining Unauthorized Immigration. RSF, 6(3), 45-67.