According to FWD.us estimates, over 100,000 international students who graduate from U.S. colleges and universities each year want to stay in the United States to work permanently. This decade, they could contribute $233 billion to the U.S. economy and reduce STEM-related talent shortages by about a quarter.
What is the skills gap?
Skills gaps are massive problems that affect companies around the globe. When businesses don’t have the necessary workforce talent, it becomes harder to compete overseas. Business leaders also face challenges when dealing with new or existing problems.
A skills shortage puts more stress on the current workers when there’s a skills shortage.
In a recent survey, 84% of small- and medium business owners said COVID-19 would change their skills requirements. In the next few years, those business owners said they would most need to manage employees via the Internet, develop websites, and use social media for marketing.
Though there is no quick fix to closing the skills gap, recruiting international employers could make a remarkable difference. These are six reasons why that’s the case.
- Hiring a global workforce can cut training time and increase the number of qualified workers available to you.
- Improving your chances of getting published by getting experience from skilled graduate students.
- Considering hiring international workers to gauge performance.
- Broaden the pool of eligible people to be considered for a job by encouraging hiring managers to increase their applicant pool.
- Preparing for future international expansion
- Using a faster option than reskilling workers.
Why International Students Are Good Hires?
Congress should increase opportunities for international graduates by introducing legislation allowing them to apply for permanent residency after graduation. The U.S. economy would get advantaged from a lifting of immigration restrictions, as other nations are attracting many skilled labourers, and we do not want to fall behind in innovation.
There is a lot of misinformation about hiring international students, but it is not much different than hiring local students.
International students are not only welcomed but actively encouraged to stay in the U.S. when they have completed their studies. This is an intelligent policy for the students and an even smarter one for the country.
Benefits of hiring international students include:
- New ways of looking at problems will help you think of solutions.
- Global/Intercultural Fluency- being open and respectful in a different culture.
- Proficient in different languages and knowledgeable about the business practices, culture, and markets of other countries
- It takes courage to be able to adapt to new environments.
- STEM students have many skills that can be helpful to small businesses.
Tips for hiring international students
How to Hire Interns of the Undergraduate Variety?
All international students can work in internships after their first year. Most students hold F-1 status levels and qualify through a grant of Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Work authorization is issued by the International Students & Scholars Office. Hiring an international student requires no more paperwork than hiring a U.S. worker.
How to Hire Graduating International Students for Full-Time Work?
It is easy for international students graduates to get permission to work in the U.S. Many international students graduates are in the U.S. on non‐immigrant student visas (F‐1 and J ‐1). These international students can get permission to work under certain conditions.
International students are eligible to apply for a 12-month, STEM students are eligible for a 24-month, post-graduation employment extension upon graduation. These extensions do not require you to seek additional employment authorization from USCIS. Students don’t have to pay extra fees, and this procedure is the first step in ensuring that your employees have a smooth transition from student visas to long-term work visas.
To close the skills gap, we must focus on individuals with different needs and motivations.
This article suggests that employers consider hiring international workers to address skills gaps. However, it does not mean that companies should first reach for foreign workers in every situation. Employers must always weigh many factors when deciding if and when to employ international workforce members.
