Congress urged to work toward visa reform

Source: Manufacturing Digital

Date :6/29/2007 8:55:03 AM

National Association of Manufacturers expresses disappointment that the U.S. Senate was unable to pass visa reform as part of the immigration package.

NAM President John Engler says that “the current visa system is broken, and manufacturers are hard pressed to compete in the global marketplace without the ability to attract and retain talented professionals in the United States.”

Engler noted that modern manufacturing requires a broad range of skilled employees, including scientists, engineers and skilled production workers. “In today’s dynamic and challenging manufacturing jobs, employees are more likely calibrating with a computer than pounding with a hammer,” he adds.

In the last NAM member survey, 80 percent of respondents reported having difficulty filling positions because they can not find qualified workers. “We need to reestablish the United States as a welcoming place for students and business, and high-skilled immigration reform will go a long way toward that goal,” Engler continues. “To that end, the NAM will continue to work with Congress to find solutions to problems affecting manufacturing competitiveness.”