H-1B Visa: The impact of US President Donald Trump’s fee hike on H-1B visas is already being felt in his own country. The increase in H-1B visa fees has led to a shortage of skilled workers in the US. As a result, American automotive giant Ford Motor Company is struggling to find high-paying skilled workers. It is struggling to fill 5,000 vacant positions for high-paying skilled workers.
There is a severe shortage of skilled workers in the US.
According to a report by the English-language website Money Control, Ford CEO Jim Farley recently stated that the United States is facing a severe shortage of skilled workers. The automaker is struggling to fill 5,000 mechanic positions despite offering salaries of up to $120,000 (about Rs. 1 crore), nearly double the average American salary. Farley made the comments on the Office Hours: Business Edition podcast and called the situation a “warning.”
More than 1 million vacancies in America
Jim Fairley told host Monica Langley that the problem extends beyond Ford. He said, “We have over one million vacancies in critical jobs. These include emergency services, trucking, factory workers, plumbers, electricians, and craftsmen. This is a very serious matter.”
Lack of education and training
Elaborating on the time required to train employees, Ford’s CEO stated that it takes at least five years to learn how to remove a diesel engine from a Ford Super Duty truck. He attributed this problem to a lack of education and training. He further stated that the current system is not up to standard.
The next generation is not being educated.
Fairley said that mechanical jobs like those at Ford made America “what it is today” and allowed people like his grandfather, who was employee number 389 at the company, to live a good life. He said, “We’re not investing in educating the next generation of people like my grandfather, who had nothing. He created a middle-class life and a future for his family.”
Trump administration tightens visa rules
The Ford CEO’s comments come at a time when US President Donald Trump has acknowledged the need to bring skilled workers into the country. However, the Trump administration has tightened visa regulations, making it difficult for organizations seeking such workers.
Trump administration hikes H-1B visa fees
This comes just months after his administration imposed a $100,000 application fee on H-1B visas, a program that major US companies, especially those in the technology sector, rely heavily on to hire foreign talent.
What does trump say
Donald Trump was asked in an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham on Tuesday whether H-1B visas would remain a priority, to which Ingraham argued that the program could conflict with her efforts to increase domestic wages. Trump said, “You also have to bring in talent.” When Ingraham said that the US already has “a lot of talented people,” he said, “No, you don’t have to.” He said, “You don’t have to have a unique talent, and you have to learn. People have to learn. You can’t put people in the unemployment line and say, ‘I’ll put you in a factory. We’ll make missiles.'”
