NumbersUSA Urges Senate to Withdraw Increase in Number of Skilled Foreign Workers WASHINGTON, DC – While the Senate is considering this week whether to increase skilled foreign workers and family by up to 350,000 a year, a new study shows that 70,000 Black Americans with skills in the technology industry are not able to find jobs in their chosen field. According to Silicon Ceiling 6, a report by John Templeton with the Coalition for Fair Employment in High Technology, Black American workers are twice as likely to be unemployed in the computer and technology industries as the general labor force. “Every corporation clamoring for the Senate’s massive increase in skilled foreign workers is implicitly stating that it prefers foreign workers to skilled Black Americans,” said NumbersUSA Executive Director Roy Beck. “This new data only confirms that there is no need to import foreign workers for high-tech and skilled jobs. If the Senate passes this unnecessary and harmful increase in permanent immigrant workers in S. 1932 (the budget reconciliation bill), even more jobs will permanently be taken out of the reach of American workers.” Mr. Templeton’s analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that 70,000 Black Americans were unemployed in six computer-related occupational groups in September 2004 out of a national total of 445,000 unemployed Black Americans. The rate for Black Americans in these groups was 8.62 percent compared to 3.82 percent overall. “I am incredulous that the United States Senate would callously disregard the plight of skilled Black American workers and further harm them by importing still more foreign labor, especially as we are remembering and honoring Rosa Parks for the opportunities she opened up for Black Americans,” said Beck. The 350,000-per-year immigration increase was inserted in the budget reconciliation bill by the Senate Judiciary Committee without any public hearings or debate. The provision is expected to face opposition on the Senate Floor from Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV). ### |
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