According to a new study by Compete America, the United States will have to attract highly trained foreign-born workers in order to overcome both temporary and long-term shortages in certain occupations. In 2004 the United States ranked 17th among countries in the number of people aged 18 to 24 who were earning science and engineering degrees. Compete America has called for expanding the controversial H-1B visa program, which allows skilled foreign workers to come to the United States for up to six years. Many technology-worker advocates are critical of the H-1B program, which they say employers use to undercut the wages of American workers.
See "Study: U.S. needs foreign-born workers", Ed Frauenheim, The New York Times, November 16, 2004