Technology, Innovation, and the American Dream: New Study Finds H-1B Visas Benefit US

Today, the Center for Global Development’s Gaurav Khanna released a new study on the economics of the H-1B visa program. While much of the research up to now has focused on wages for a small subset of workers, this new study considers the broader economic impact of the H-1B visa program and finds the program to have large net economic benefits for the U.S. economy and for U.S. workers.

Key findings:
·         U.S. workers are, on average, better off by about $431 million in one year because of the H-1B program.
·         The H-1B visa program spurred the hiring of U.S. native workers in IT managerial positions.
·         Immigrant-led innovation in the IT sector increased the overall productivity of other U.S. sectors as well, leading to lower prices for consumers and higher wages for the average U.S. worker.

KJ