Jewish Efforts to Influence American Immigration Policy in the Years Before t...
Issues in Recognition of Foreign Education and Workforce Skills Credentials
1. Issues in Recognition of Foreign Education and
Workforce Skills Credentials
Margie McHugh
Governor’s Advisory Council on Refugees and Immigrants
Boston, MA
April 21, 2010
2. Integration of Skilled ImmigrantsIntegration of Skilled Immigrants
in the U.S.in the U.S.
• Leverages foreign-funded educational
investments
• Maximizes the skill use of immigrants already in
the country
• Raises worker productivity, increases tax yields,
and decreases reliance on public benefits
• Helps create a new generation of immigrant
leadership
3. Major MPI Findings…
• More than 1.3 million college-educated immigrants are
unemployed or working in unskilled jobs
• 22% of all college-educated immigrants – or 1 out of every 5
highly skilled immigrants – are working in unskilled jobs
(e.g., construction laborers, babysitters, file clerks, etc.)
• Another 22% are in semi-skilled jobs
(e.g., carpenters, electricians, massage therapists, etc.)
• 44% recent Mexican and Central American skilled immigrants
are working in unskilled jobs
Brain waste is a reality
Brain waste + brain drain = Worst policy outcome
4. USUS: Share of Skilled Immigrants in: Share of Skilled Immigrants in
Unskilled JobsUnskilled Jobs
Percentage of the College Educated in Unskilled Jobs*
Notes: *Among foreign-educated, “recent” refers to immigrants who came to the US ten or fewer years ago, while “long-term”
refers to immigrants who have been in the US for 11 years or longer. **”Europe” refers to Europe, Canada, and Oceania.
Source: 2005-2006 ACS analysis from Batalova & Fix, Uneven Progress: The Employment Trajectories of Skilled Immigrants
in the United States (MPI 2008).
19
20
33
23
35
22
18
44
17
US born Recent Long term
Europe** Asia Lat. America Africa
5. Brain Waste in the United States:Brain Waste in the United States:
Risk FactorsRisk Factors
• Lacking English skills
• Having only foreign degree
• Not working in the US prior to permanent settlement
• Entering under non-employment visa category
• Coming from Latin America or Africa
• Experiences periods of unauthorized residence
• Lacking US professional and social networks
• Facing institutional barriers:
-- Nonrecognition of foreign-earned credentials
-- Lack of quality English classes teaching work-related language
6. State-level Strategies to AddressState-level Strategies to Address
Credential Recognition IssuesCredential Recognition Issues
• Develop population profile, including immigration
status, country of origin and profession
• Map requirements and barriers for key regulated
and unrelated professions
• Map existing program capacity for key
interventions and key professions
• Develop approach accounting for areas of
highest need, challenge and opportunity
Integration – fragmented and underfunded policy area
Competition: Increasingly other countries are competing for global talent, lessening the historic advantage the US has had in picking top workers
M & D: , which have positive impacts for development of migrant-sending countries.
Combined, 44% of skilled immigrants have the potential, skills, training for more yet they don’t. This is an inefficiency in the system. How is it we are able to hire talent on the H1 visas process and not capitalize on other skilled immigrant talent? If an immigrant comes to the US with a bachelors or masters already, and they decide to gain US credentials via a US degree…that is a loss for employers
Talent is out of the pipeline for the time they are in education system
If they attend a public university system, which many will, we are further investing in them..when they don’t need to be
18% natives; 22% all college-edu immg; and 25% foreign-educ immg
African and Latin American college educated -- populations are highest in unemployment -- account for 28% of all college-edu immigrants
They are not a majority of those coming to US with skills, yet the fact that their outcomes do not improve as fast over time as for other groups, is a reason for a special attention.
NIS:
Europeans: 16% empl, 44% family, 26% diversity;
Asians: 35% empl, 50% family, 10% legalized/other
Lat Am: 6% empl, 61% family, 22% legalized/other, 10% refugee
Afr: 10% emp, 42% family, 32% diversity, 10% refugees
This slide tells me it benefits to be here longer…why is it with time that skilled workers are finding appropriate level work? Are they going back to school? Starting own business?...it would seem that the longer they are not utilizing skills/training, the harder it would be to find appropriate level work. Other than increased English capabilities and cultural adaptieness…what else happens?
Entering under nonemployment visa category (family, refugee, or diversity visa)
Integration – fragmented and underfunded policy area
Competition: Increasingly other countries are competing for global talent, lessening the historic advantage the US has had in picking top workers
M & D: , which have positive impacts for development of migrant-sending countries.