2017年-查塔姆研究所_Supporting_the_US_Economy_by_Improving_the_Mobility_of_High-skilled_Labour_Across_the_Atlantic_30页_505kb

Summary of "Supporting the US Economy by Improving the Mobility of High-skilled Labour Across the Atlantic"

Core Content

This research paper examines the mobility of high-skilled workers between the United States and the European Union, highlighting the economic benefits of such movement and the policy challenges that hinder it. It compares the US H-1B visa system with the EU Blue Card scheme, and explores the implications of current visa policies on economic growth, innovation, and job creation in the US.

Main Points

• Economic Integration and Labour Mobility: The US and EU are deeply integrated economically through trade and investment, but high-skilled labour mobility across the Atlantic is limited, presenting missed opportunities for economic growth.
• High-skilled Workers Definition: High-skilled workers are defined as professionals with at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• US Visa Schemes:
  • H-1B Visa: For foreign nationals in 'specialty occupations'. It is subject to an annual cap of 65,000 visas, with exemptions for advanced degree holders and certain sectors. It is a 'dual-intent' visa, allowing for a path to permanent residence.
  • E-1 and E-2 Visas: For treaty traders and investors from countries with which the US has treaties. These visas are renewable with no cap, but require substantial trade or investment.
  • L-1 Visa: For intra-company transferees. It allows for a transfer of managers, specialists, or employees from a foreign office to a US office, and can be a pathway to permanent residence.
  • F-1 OPT: Students with F-1 visas can work in the US through Optional Practical Training, with STEM graduates eligible for a 24-month extension.
• EU Visa Schemes:
  • EU Blue Card: A work permit for non-EU citizens in 25 EU member states. It requires a minimum salary of 1.5 times the average gross salary, with the possibility of a lower threshold in shortage occupations. It provides greater flexibility and autonomy for workers.
  • Intra-company Transfers: Governed by the Intra-Corporate Transfer Directive, allowing third-country nationals to transfer to the EU. It has a time limit on employment duration and requires a market-level salary.
  • National Schemes: Some EU member states have their own high-skilled work permit systems, which can be more accessible than the EU Blue Card in certain cases.
• Comparison of H-1B and EU Blue Card:
  • The H-1B visa has an annual cap and a random lottery system, creating uncertainty and delays.
  • The EU Blue Card has no overall cap and offers a faster, more predictable application process.
  • The Blue Card allows for greater worker autonomy, including the ability to switch employers after two years and a longer grace period for unemployment.
  • The H-1B visa requires employer sponsorship for permanent residence, while the Blue Card does not.
• Economic Impact of US Visa System:
  • The H-1B visa system is seen as a constraint on US economic growth due to its limitations and costs.
  • It hinders US firms from expanding and innovating, and limits the ability of the US to retain skilled graduates.
  • The US visa system also restricts FDI and job creation, particularly from the EU.
• Policy Recommendations:
  • Create a special visa for highly skilled EU citizens to work in the US.
  • Extend treaty trader and investor visas to all EU member states.
  • Improve the H-1B system by eliminating fraud and abuse, and increasing transparency.

Key Information

• The H-1B visa is the most common for EU workers in the US, but only accounts for 5% of all H-1B visas issued in 2016.
• The EU Blue Card is more favorable for workers due to its flexibility, no cap, and streamlined process.
• The US visa system is complex, costly, and has significant limitations that affect both workers and employers.
• The EU Blue Card scheme has been used by 4,323 US citizens in 2015, with Germany issuing the most Blue Cards.
• The US and EU have a combined GDP of $35 trillion and trade worth $1.1 trillion in 2016, underscoring the importance of improving transatlantic mobility for high-skilled workers.

Conclusion

Enhancing the mobility of high-skilled workers across the Atlantic is crucial for strengthening the US-EU economic relationship. The EU Blue Card scheme offers a more efficient and worker-friendly alternative to the H-1B visa, and reforms to the US system could significantly benefit the economy by reducing barriers to skilled labor movement and fostering innovation and growth.