Chamber Calls Highly Skilled Immigrant Labor Critical to Continued Economic Growth

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce called on the Congress to recognize the critical labor shortage currently facing U.S. businesses by passing legislation that would grant more visas to technical professionals and to streamline the immigration process.

"The demand for American workers with technical skills exceeds the supply," said Ali Cleveland, Chamber manager of labor policy. "It is imperative that the arbitrary cap on high-skilled workers be raised as a short-term solution to the growing worker shortage in this country."

The Chamber supports the Senate Immigration Act, which would increase the cap on H-1B visas – temporary visas for highly skilled workers – to 195,000, allowing companies access to needed workers. The current annual limit on workers with H-1B visas (115,000) is reached earlier and earlier every year.

"Businesses will work with Congress to find domestic solutions to the long-term problem of worker shortages," said Cleveland. "Focusing on better education in Kindergarten through High School, partnering with the community, implementing more job training programs – are all part of building and maintaining an adequate skilled-labor pool.

"But without immediate action to fill the technology worker gap, the shortage will continue to grow, threatening American prosperity and preeminence in the global economy," said Cleveland.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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