The Case for Increasing H ‑2B Guest Worker Visas Is Strong

David J. BierCongresshas authorized the Biden administration to increase the cap on the number of H-2B seasonal guest worker visas this summer. In the past, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has only used a portion of the H-2B visas that Congress authorized it to use. In 2021, DHSauthorized just 22,000 of the 64,716 additional H-2B cap spots Congress created, citing higher-than-normal unemployment rates early that year. In December, itannouncedit would authorize just 20,000 for the end of winter season. But this summer should be different: the economic case for using all of the H-2B visas is stronger than ever.Employers are requesting a near-record136,555 H-2B positions for the summer, more than 4 times the summer cap of 33,000.The Department of Labor (DOL) certified a record 95 percent of H-2B positions as unfilled by U.S. workers in 2021.H-2B wages have grown at twice the rate of all U.S. wages.The unemployment rate in the top H-2B job (landscaping) was at a record low 4 percent in the summer of 2021.H-2B ' s main industry (which includes landscaping) had a record 2.3 job openings for each unemployed worker in the summer of 2021.H-2B businesses (mainly small businesses) face declines in revenue of about $2 billion without a cap increase.H-2B Summer Demand Is Spiking to Near-Record HighsThe H-2B 66,000 annual visa cap is divided into two half-year caps (October to March, April-September) of 33,000 each. The earliest date employers can file for the April-September (Su...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs