How immigration can address American labor shortages and jumpstart economic growth

This event is part of a larger series on how immigration can help relieve U.S. labor shortages. You can explore the full series here.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, labor shortages have become increasingly apparent in American daily life. Restaurants and shops post “Help Wanted” placards alongside notices of reduced hours or interrupted services due to employee shortages, and shipping delays “due to unforeseen circumstances” cause frustration among online shoppers.

This conversation, which took place on October 19, 2022, centers on how immigration can play a key role in addressing labor shortages. We focus on how the Department of Labor can act today to expand the availability of crucial foreign talent, even in the absence of legislative action, simply by updating the so-called Schedule A designations for positions that employers are finding particularly difficult to fill. We also highlight findings from a new research paper published by Cecilia Esterline.