In 2023, the United States faced a significant surge in commodity prices, with inflation soaring to 9.1%, its highest level since 1981. The US Department of Labor attributed this sharp rise to increased prices for essentials like fuel, food, and housing. Amid efforts to mitigate the adverse impacts of inflation, it became evident that one viable solution lay in immigration reform.
However, the United States’ outdated immigration code stood in stark contrast to policies in countries like Canada, the UK, the EU, and the rest of the developed world, where corporate employers could hire talent from overseas when none was available domestically. Unlike its counterparts, the United States deprived employers of this opportunity, lacking visa programs that catered to their needs. Consequently, many employers either engaged in non-compliance by hiring illegal aliens or faced labor shortages.
Jon Purizhansky, the founder of Joblio.co, points out that as of 2021, the nation’s 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants represented about 3% of the total US population and 22% of the foreign-born population. With the recent influx of foreign nationals coming to the US through its southern border, the number of unauthorized immigrants could now be close to 15 or even 20 million people. In the absence of a work-authorized workforce, desperate employers often take legal risks by hiring unauthorized aliens. Not providing these populations with work authorizations has not only fueled non-compliance among employers but also deprived the government of tax revenues and contributed to growing inflation.
To address these challenges, Jon Purizhansky argues that the the United States must adopt a policy akin to its counterparts, allowing employers to hire workers from abroad in temporary capacities. Such a shift would benefit the entire ecosystem – employees, employers, US taxpayers, and the government. The economic rationale is clear: by facilitating legal pathways for employers to access foreign talent, the United States can alleviate labor shortages, boost productivity, increase tax revenues, and curb inflation. Comprehensive immigration reform is not merely a matter of economic policy; it is essential for ensuring the nation’s long-term economic stability and prosperity.
Furthermore, there are underlying reasons for the shortage of talent in the developed world. As populations age and generational wealth accumulates, the nature of work evolves. Regardless of location – whether in Norway, Japan, the United States, or any other developed country – individuals are unlikely to perform the same work as their grandparents did. To reduce inflation and contribute to economic sustainability and growth, employers have no alternative but to seek talent from developing countries. Buffalo, New York, exemplifies this trend with its growing refugee populations. Employers in Buffalo and across Western New York attest that New Americans are among their best workers, possessing strong work ethics and a focus on upward mobility. These populations, with their loyalty and productivity, are essential assets to the workforce.
Providing employers with the ability to hire talent from abroad will be a boon for the US economy. However, it is imperative to implement smart immigration reforms to facilitate this process. The future of work, not just in the US but globally, will rely on cross-cultural employer-employee relationships, harnessing the diverse talents and perspectives of a global workforce.
Jon Purizhansky, the Founder and CEO of Joblio a global social impact technology platform that aids work authorized refugees and labor migrants