How desperate are American companies for STEM skills?
So much that both Democrats and Republicans agree this is an huge issue and are looking at increasing the number of immigration visas for those with STEM skills. However, adjusting the current policy is only a short-term solution given that these small numbers wouldn’t help meet the high demand. Moreover, most of these immigrants would eventually return to their country of origin and take the knowledge with them – creating an international “brain drain” of sorts.
The long-term solution would be to develop talent here in the U.S., especially among women and underrepresented minorities which constitute a tiny number in STEM industries.
