I recently read that some local folks are considering job training or re-training, as a result of recent layoffs or the threats of recent layoffs, permanent or temporary. Due to the unemployment situation nationwide, it has also reached into California, and locally into Fillmore, Simi Valley and Ventura County. The situation is frightening.
This job training concept is focused, in essence, to train people in certain jobs other than their proposed job goals, to align them with more permanent positions such as in the medical field as operating room technicians; for one type of position available for training/education. No person desires to be unemployed, and who have certain skills and education in a field or work, and not to be working because of the economical malfunction spreading worldwide. No gurantees for jobs, folks...read on.
The point being, in the Philippines, as an example only, of ONE Asian country [and there are also European countries such as Bosnia, included] who are educating hundreds of thousands of their high school graduates into nursing and nurse/doctor support personnel, [in this professional only - there are engineering and others coming] hoping to become "OFW's or Overseas Foreign Worker's", and applying by the thousands every day to the US Embassy and the Department of Foreign Affair's Office in Manila[located on the same strip, Roxas Boulevard, a mile from each other], for work in the USA. I personally have seen the long lines extending three city blocks long!
Each state as we know it, has "quotas" established for the amount [number of] of foreign workers entering the US under work authorizations such as "Internships". California has one of the highest quota rates. Most visas authorized for workers are, B-1 = Business Visa; E-2 = Treaty Trader Visa; E-3 = Work Visa for Australians; F-1 = Student Visa; H1B = Work Visa; H2B = Work Visa; O-Visa = Extraordinary Ability Visa; K-1 = Fiancee Visa; L-1 = Intra Company work Visa; Nurse Work Visa; R-1 Religious Worker Visa; and TN NAFTA Work Visa. My questions are concerned with the most leading question: "What about hiring all those legal Americans FIRST before we immigrate and/or hire others from foreign countries; or who are illegal to work in the USA?"
In 2008, for accurate example, 65,000 visas were allocated for the H1B Visa [Work Visa]. Employers were requested by the Federal Government to obtain and apply for foreign workers to be hired for their companies or facilities, and out of these 65,000 "available", 6,800 visas are set-aside especially for Chile and Singapore nationals. The visas go to foreign nationals who are "highly educated" and have at least a Bachelor's degree. Although the foreigners can only remain in the US for 6 years under this visa, the majority of them apply for citizenship, and their status to return to their native country is static; it's frozen until they obtain citizenship. In closing, Permanent Residents of foreigner's in the US are increasing at an extremely faster rate now than ever. One answer? Elimination and have a moratorium on foreigners? That's my best guess and recommendation for the next 10 years at least.
John King