The Technology Worker Crisis
July 6, 2007
In addition to eavesdropping on politics, I also think it is important to take action by writing to my senators and congressman. I expect that it rarely makes a difference … but if just one time in my life, something I wrote did influence the government, it might be worth it.The following is the text of a letter I sent to my senators and congressman this morning. Hopefully it speaks for itself!
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“There’s a restriction on the number of visas the company can get for foreign employees in the U.S.,” he said. “Canada’s slightly more inclusive in that respect.” — Sharif Khan, HR Director of Microsoft Canada.
CBC is reporting that Microsoft is opening yet another development center, this time in Vancouver Canada, only hours from their Redmond Washington corporate headquarters. I find it strange that politicians simultaneously worry about the lack of American students willing to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in college, while at the same time allowing American-educated foreigners with advanced degrees in STEM fields to be deported for lack of a visa.
At my own school, the taxpayers of Ohio have invested 100s of thousands of dollars in trying to jump-start our tech economy by paying for students to get advanced degrees in computer science. Then these same students, who are desperately needed in Ohio, are not allowed to remain because of visa caps.I believe that scientists, engineers and programmers are the backbone of a modern economy. If we want to continue to be a prosperous country, we need to either produce more STEM majors, or allow those that come from overseas to stay here.If we want America (and especially Ohio) to be prosperous, we must immediately:
1) Produce a national advertising campaign to debunk the myth that technology jobs either pay poorly, or do not exist in the United States. “Education consumers” are confused about the difference between STEM and Information Technology, and the recent move by many companies to off-shore IT services has confused the market about the value of a STEM education.
2) Create *very* strong incentives for college students to select a STEM major. If a student graduates with a B- or better average in a STEM major, the government should pay for at least half of her education.
3) Immediately pass a bill that removes visa caps for persons with at least a Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, for at least the next five years.
