Article: The Opportunity Immigration Presents to the Changing US Economy By Tory Johnson

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The Opportunity Immigration Presents to the Changing US Economy
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Tory Johnson
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The U.S. economy is changing—and immigration can play a major role in how
it looks in the future. But how immigration shapes the future of the U.S.
economy and its workforce is dependent on a variety of factors—including
policymakers’ willingness to see immigration as an opportunity.
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The United States is in a period of dynamic change.
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Industries are changing and our workforce is aging
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. Advances in technology and automation are shifting the job market.
Workplaces are exploring non-traditional structures. These and other
factors present
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unique challenges and opportunities for workers, employers, and the
economy overall
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.
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Among the most pressing concerns: the U.S. population and workforce are
declining. The
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birth rate for younger generations is at a record low
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while the baby boomer generation is aging, meaning the supply of labor is
dwindling. Labor force participation rates fell to 63% in 2014 and are
expected to continue sliding, to 61% in 2028.
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Yet demand for workers is hardly declining. U.S. companies’ need for highly
educated workers has grown in recent decades and shows no signs of slowing
down.
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While some mid-skill occupations are predicted to decline due to
technological advancement, experts now believe that automation will create
and shift the nature of work. Rather than eliminate mid-skill occupations,
these shifts are projected to create new jobs in low- and mid-skill
occupations in the next decade. Experts believe that these changes will
create new mid- and low-skill jobs.
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Traditional workplace structures are shifting as well. Alternative staffing
options are gaining popularity, with many companies and organizations
relying on independent contractors, outsourced expertise, and
non-traditional work arrangements that provide more flexibility and less
stability.
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In this context of possible worker shortages and dynamic changes in the
workplace, the country can make policy decisions that help minimize
challenges and lay groundwork for a more vibrant economy.
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Immigration presents opportunities to capitalize on these changes, rather
than be hindered by them.
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Recent studies show that on the whole,
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immigration provides substantial labor benefits
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by mitigating the negative effects of population decline and adding skills
and experience that complement the native-born workforce.
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Immigrants are also more likely than natives to launch start-ups and their
own businesses, creating jobs, growth, and dynamism in the economy.
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<p>
Experts stress that there is no magic number when it comes to admitting
immigrants. Rather, they recommend policies that serve and respond to
workforce changes and employer demands.
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At the same time, it is important to recognize that not everyone in the
country experiences the same benefits or challenges. Given this, experts
argue that it is even more important to craft immigration policy in
conjunction with other policies.
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For example, a plan to increase employment-based immigration could be
paired with a skills training program to support U.S.-based worker groups
experiencing stagnation or a shrinking sector.
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Rather than ramping up the highly politicized and often contentious
rhetoric that is often associated with immigration today, we need to
explore immigration in conjunction with other important aspects of our
society, namely the U.S. economy.
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<p>
Immigration does not exist in a vacuum and we do the country a disservice
by not embracing—and crafting policies that take full advantage of—the
strong ties between immigration and the country’s economic prosperity.
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<p>This post originally appeared on <a href=”http://immigrationimpact.com/2019/09/05/opportunity-immigration-us-economy/#.XXmNoihKhPY” target=”_blank”>Immigration Impact</a>. Reprinted with permission.</p>
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About The Author<br/>
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<b>Tory Johnson</b> is an author of Immigration Impact.
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