Economic shifts, demographic pressures, technological advances, and difficulties recruiting and retaining workers during the COVID-19 pandemic are buffeting labor markets in rapid and at times unpredictable ways and contributing to growing labor shortages. This, in turn, has fueled discussions about the potential role for immigration.
MPI’s Global Skills and Talent Initiative explores the role immigration can play in addressing current and future workforce needs in rapidly evolving labor markets, with a particular focus on employment-based immigration and the supports that can help immigrants apply their full range of educational and professional skills. MPI’s premise is that decisions about immigration policy need to form part of a broader strategy on skills and talent that takes into account economic, social, and national interest considerations and can bring together government, private-sector, and civil-society viewpoints.
The Initiative’s work aims to answer five animating questions:
- What role can immigration and immigrant integration play in meeting labor market needs?
- How can immigration support competitiveness in high-growth sectors?
- What does the future hold for low-wage immigration?
- How can governments support and promote immigrant entrepreneurship and innovation?
- What are the implications of remote work for immigration systems?
Over the last two decades, MPI has produced essential original research and insights on U.S. and global immigration selection systems, recruitment policies, credential recognition, immigrant integration, immigrant contributions to the economy, and workforce development for first- and second-generation immigrants. The work collected here showcases research produced for the Initiative and curates some of the most on-point work that MPI has done over the years with regards to 1) human capital and skills; 2) immigrant selection systems; 3) labor market integration; 4) the future of work; 5) migration partnerships; and 6) harnessing the benefits of immigration.
The Immigration Debate America Needs—and Is Not Having