The Migration Policy Institute suggests that immigrants in the U.S. could help alleviate impending labor shortages, particularly in fields requiring higher education and specialized skills. However, a considerable portion of immigrants may need retraining or upskilling.
As of 2023, only 62% of U.S. adults had some form of postsecondary education, ranging from partial college attendance to an associate degree or beyond. By 2031, however, with the growing importance of artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing, MPI predicts that 72% of all U.S. jobs will demand postsecondary education.
Per MPI’s findings, certain second-generation immigrant groups, including Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Black, and White adults, exceeded this threshold in 2023, with 75% achieving postsecondary education. However, when considering immigrants across generations, the rates decline, with less than 60% of Latinos and around 62% of Black immigrants obtaining postsecondary education.
While immigrants offer a promising solution to future U.S. labor needs, policymakers must address specific challenges hindering immigrants’ access to postsecondary education. Many immigrants hold skills and credentials acquired abroad that aren’t recognized in the U.S. Moreover, some lack a pathway to permanent residency, such as those under temporary protected status or participants in the DACA program.
Congress has not undertaken significant reforms to the nation’s immigration system in decades. Furthermore, a surge in migrants at the southern border has dominated much of the Biden administration’s attention.
Despite initiatives in certain states like Maine, which, grappling with an aging population, increasingly rely on immigrants to address labor shortages, there has been limited action at the federal level.
As always, our team of experienced attorneys continue to monitor updates to U.S. immigration policy. Please reach out to us, if you have any U.S. immigrations related questions. We work with our clients every step of the way.