The workforce shortage in the US continues to be a pressing issue, with vacancies in high-skilled industries like STEM and healthcare threatening national security and care availability in rural communities. In response to this challenge, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin and bipartisan colleagues are urging the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to simplify the process of hiring international workers. They are specifically calling for the use of DOL's Schedule A Shortage Occupation List to streamline the hiring of vetted international workers in industries like STEM and healthcare. The Schedule A list, which has not been updated since 2005, currently only includes professional nurses and physical therapists. The Senators emphasize the need for the DOL to update and expand the list to address the critical workforce shortages in these industries. They highlight that attracting international talent is crucial to supporting economic growth and ensuring care availability in rural areas.
According to an opinion piece in The Washington Post, the Labor Department's Schedule A shortage occupation list could be a solution to prioritize immigration in occupations with insufficient U.S. workers. The authors propose a data-driven method to modernize Schedule A by considering 10 key economic indicators for each occupation. They found 28 occupations, including healthcare and STEM fields, that could be included in a modernized Schedule A. This approach could help expand access to quality and affordable care and boost the United States' international competitiveness. The authors argue that a data-driven approach to track shortages could also inform workforce training and education programs. They emphasize the need to raise wages and improve working conditions in certain occupations before seeking help from the federal government. The authors believe that using the Schedule A list alongside objective data can steer immigrants toward high-demand occupations while maintaining the health of the labor market.
A recent executive order by the Biden administration could impact the hiring of skilled international workers. The order requires the Department of Labor (DOL) to collect relevant public information to identify occupations with labor shortages and update the Schedule A list, which allows immigrants in those occupations to expedite their employment in the U.S. The Institute for Progress has released a report suggesting a data-driven, transparent process called the Help Wanted Index to modernize the way the DOL updates Schedule A. The report identifies 28 occupations that should be eligible for Schedule A, including atmospheric and space scientists, electrical and electronics engineers, surgeons, psychologists, and registered nurses. Massachusetts, which is experiencing labor shortages, would benefit greatly from an expansion of Schedule A. The state is already facing shortages in healthcare, with over 19,000 unfilled acute care positions. A study predicts that Massachusetts could have 192,000 fewer skilled workers in 2030 than it currently has. Massachusetts has historically relied on immigrants to fill important needs in the economy, and the state should advocate for federal reform to enhance and modernize Schedule A to attract international talent. [9b987dce] [3dd1ecb6]