STEM Talent and U.S. Immigration Policies
Interest in STEM courses among U.S. residents has grown at a slower pace compared to non-residents. This trend is significant given the newly introduced $1,00,000 visa fee for new H-1B workers in the U.S., which particularly affects Indian applicants. The U.S. has historically relied heavily on STEM talent, especially in the IT sector.
Growth in the U.S. IT and STEM Sectors
- Jobs in the U.S. IT sector, defined as 'computer and mathematical occupations,' have increased by approximately 40% between 2016 and 2024.
- The IT sector, along with health care support roles and jobs in life, physical, and social sciences, are among the fastest-growing sectors.
- These sectors have a slightly above-average share of foreign-born workers, around 25% in 2024, a figure that has remained unchanged since 2016.
Reliance on Foreign Talent
- American tech companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Meta are major recruiters of H-1B talent, not just Indian IT firms.
- STEM occupations are projected to grow by more than 8% over the next decade, compared to 2.7% for non-STEM jobs.
- The U.S. may lack sufficient home-grown STEM talent to meet this growing demand.
STEM Education Trends
- From 2011–12 to 2020–21, the number of non-residents earning STEM bachelor’s degrees in the U.S. rose by 148%, compared to 47% among U.S. residents.
- At the Master’s level, only 55% of those earning degrees in 2020-21 were residents, while 45% were non-residents.
International Responses
- China has introduced a 'K visa' as an alternative to the H-1B.
- The U.K. is considering lowering visa fees for STEM workers, while Germany is actively inviting Indian professionals.
- South Korea and Japan have similar plans to attract global STEM talent.
The data in the report is sourced from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
